Being — An Image

An artfully altered photo of a Linden Tree in full leaf.
“Linden” — C.Birde, 6/21

“I perfume

the air

with my being…”

She did not brag,

merely spoke

truth.

“You need

only

breathe.”

— C.Birde, 6/21

Interrupt — A Poem

An artfully augmented photo of a earthen path through a green wood.
“Wood” — C.Birde, 6/21

The sky unzips & groans –

sliced, clipped, bisected –

while, rooted below,

I struggle to parse

interrupted songs of

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Carolina Wren

Ovenbird

&

T

h

r

u

s

h.

— C.Birde, 6/21

The Swimming — A Dream

An abstract photo representing a gray sky hung above a gray sea.
“Gray Sea, Gray Sky” — C.Birde, 6/21

Gray sea, gray sky

Margins smudged

in all directions

Stretched & stretching

Unbroken & unchanged

but for the smooth fold

& roll of white-capped

wavelets…

Then, movement –

countless pale shapes

schooled & swimming

beneath the gray sea’s

surface in synchronicity

Arms flush to lean torsos,

legs at knees & ankles

clamped, pressed

as though fused…

Their bodies part water

with inhuman, ghostly

grace

No need to surface…

No trail of bubbles

to mark their silent

passage…

Blind & Deaf & Mute

They are the swimming

Dead…

My own eyes sting

     my tongue tastes salt

          my ears pulse, throb

And then, release…

Within their company,

freed from bodily limits

& swimming…

     swimming…

          swimming

endlessly…

— C.Birde, 6/21

Occluded — A Poem

A symbolic augmented photo of a softly glowing white marble.
“Occluded” — C.Birde, 6/21

O

milky

pearled

occluded

eye

though

turned my way

you see me

not

colored

as the spots

that dot

your twins’

fawn-colored

coats

bless you,

mother of those

two sweet

ciphers

bless you,

your strength,

your wounds,

you keen half-

sight,

& welcome.

— C.Birde, 6/21

Shoes — A Dream

A fragmented photo of a pair of sneakers.
“Shoes” — C.Birde, 6/21

Shoes

sturdy, dancing, & lightweight

for hiking, travelling, work, & play;

high-heeled, smooth-soled, steel-toed

Shoes

as comfortable, common, & tough

that support, pinch, bind, or rub

Goody-two shoes

Walk-a-mile shoes

Give-the-boot shoes

Waiting for the other to drop

Or,

dozens & dozens & dozens

of brand-new, white soled

canvas shoes –

tongues & laces lolling –

heaped, mounded, & piled

in a small mountain

of implied choice,

& not a matched

mate among

them.

— C.Birde, 6/21

Will — An Image

An artfully altered photo of Sweet William Pinks, dotted with raindrops.
“Sweet William Pinks” — C.Birde, 6/21

“I will rain,

&

I will reign.”

Her voice

called storms

& stroked

stone.

“As

I

will.”

— C.Birde, 6/21

Poise — An Image

An artfully altered photo of a moss-clad tree in a ferny woodland.
“Green Lace & Green Velvet” — C.Birde, 5/21

“Green lace

& green velvet

are

timeless…”

she mused,

wearing both

to spellbinding

effect.

— C.Birde, 5/21

Damage Done — A Dream

An artfully altered close-up photo of a steering wheel.
“Wheel” — C.Birde, 5/21

The truck’s cab,

sparse, dark;

eighteen-wheeled,

manual efficiency,

parked

in a half-filled lot

of compact cars –

automotive giant

amongst

Lilliputians.

Seat,

adjusted.

Mirrors,

angled.

Seat belt,

clicked.

Wheel –

smooth & sleek –

firmly gripped.

When,

without warning,

she leans from

the passenger seat,

grabs the wheel,

stomps the gas…

With belch & roar,

the truck

l  u  r  c  h  e  s

left & forward.

Scrape

of plastic…

Screech

of metal…

The car below –

dwarfed,

overwhelmed –

buckles,

breaks.

Shake her free,

grab the wheel.

Release

the accelerator.

Correct course,

assert control,

& straighten.

Too late,

     too late.

The smaller car –

wrecked,

warped.

The damage,

done.

— C.Birde, 5/21