Pole jackets? Trust me, never heard of them

For twenty-five years I have walked dogs past the same two dozen utility poles. Today I notice again the crumbling sheath at the base of one of them. It must be the light.

Cobalt, indigo, aqua, then a mix of lilac, umber, and ocher—even loden green—there are so many hues!

Time and weather have deckled the edges, like handmade paper. Tacked straight into wood with three galvanized nails, this is the only utility jacket wrapping a pole on our road.

Was it attached to protect the base from rot? Was it an insect barrier? Why this pole?

From a distance, the substance is a mystery, mottled, like pigments bleeding together on thick wet paper.

The dog and I close in on it. It’s plastic, and brittle, the color of bruises.

If you’ve followed this blog for a while, you know I love the way everyday sights suggest insights.

So far, I’m stumped. [Read more…]