Poet: Born in Montana, Tim Pilgrim is an associate professor of journalism at Western Washington University, with college degrees in education, English and communications.

Poetry then: "I've been writing poetry since sixth grade in Dillon, Mont. Published 'The woods near our home' in my class booklet. I kept on writing."

Poetry now: Work and life kept Pilgrim's writing to a minimum until the mid 1980s, when he began publishing more. He began working two-thirds time at Western in 2006, which allowed his poetic output to increase further. His poems can be found at timothypilgrim.org.

RESCUE MISSION

December morning inside my window

I catch orange reflection - ladybugs

piled on more ladybugs, all, asleep.

I study markings - black circles

darkened by frost - think I see

what causes them to clump like this.

They must know group warmth

means survival and, so, will starve

all winter - shudder collectively

as snow mounds high outside.

Glass shuts out a bit of cold,

brightens hope, permits belief

they might endure. I tug one loose,

scoop her to a houseplant leaf,

return, rescue more - finally breathe.

At sundown, only tiny shadows freeze.