Lydia’s — A Dream

An artfully altered photo of a fawn, lying curled amidst green growth.
“Fawn” — C.Birde, 5/21

To lie

in soft grass,

slim green tongues

whispering

against ankles,

arms, & legs,

weaving

through hair &

white gauze gown

Body curved –

O, earthbound slip of

crescent Moon –

about the creature’s

small & delicate form

Tawny-furred &

white-star-spotted,

large soft ears

folded back against

elongated skull,

stilt legs bent

at sharp angles,

tail & flint hooves

tucked

And to know,

all in a rush –

like song & sunrise

& oak groves &

oceans –

that, in life,

this fawn was Hers

was Hers

H e r s

She is gone two years.

But O, Her fawn

endures.

— C.Birde, 2/22

Fallow — An Image

An artfully altered photo of a wooded space...a foreground of young, pale-leaved beech trees, and a carpet of dried leaves below.
“Fallow” — C.Birde, 2/22

“Soon,

soon…”

She spoke

from a space betwixt

sleep & waking.

“I will exchange

this fallow Winter gown

for one

of green-tendrilled

Spring…”

— C.Birde, 2/22

Boa of Light — A Dream

An artful altered photo of a journal page with a line drawing of a seahorse...
“Boa of Light” — C.Birde, 2/22

From above,

a boa of light descends

to encircle her neck

& drape her left shoulder –

l o o s e l y…

See,

within this buoyant

tumble of golden light,

innumerable seahorses –

bobbing, swimming –

necks tucked inward,

tails curling, uncurling,

dorsal & pectoral fins

fanning air & propelling

delicate-ridged bodies

back upstream

to the light’s source

Amidst this,

she sits, smiling,

festooned

in the seahorses’

gyre & shimmer,

wreathed

in the radiance

of her own

h

 e

  a

    l

     i

      n

        g.

— C.Birde, 2/22

Winter-ish — An Image

An artfully altered photo of a puddle of raindrops collecting at the base of an old Maple's roots.
“Winter-ish, February” — C.Birde, 2/22

“I remember

when Winter met me

with a veil of frost,

a cloak of snow…”

She exhaled

a misted breath.

“Now,

He greets me

with a fall

of tears.”

— C.Birde, 2/22

Evergreen Wisdom — A Poem

An artfully altered photo of snow-limned trees.
“Winter Trees” — C.Birde, 2/22

Wind through

bare trees,

white-edged

with snow,

dispels illusion

of green things

quickening

growing

For a breath,

a moment only

Palms pressed

to maple’s trunk,

ears tuned to birds’

evolving song

Gazing slantwise,

past paper squares

& digital lines aglow,

beyond time

compressed,

confined…

Evergreen-wise

Heart-sight sees,

knows.

— C.Birde, 2/22

Jouissance — A Poem

An artfully altered photo of a silver teacup & saucer on an oak tabletop, catching morning light through a large bay window.
“Tea, Light” — C.Birde, 1/22

I sit

at smooth-planed oak,

mid-morning light

wandering through

bowed glass,

& listen —

to the curl of his voice

& the River’s sigh,

& the small birds’

close observations;

& listening,

I weep.

— C.Birde, 1/22

Archie Leach — A Dream

An artfully altered photo, taken of a television screen while watching a movie, of Cary Grant.
“A.Leach” — C.Birde, 1/22

Who are you to me,

Mister Leach?

That you glide

from nostalgia’s

silver screen?

Stride languidly

through Dream plains

of wild Psyche?

Debonair in style,

urbane of gesture,

smooth-suited

& Brylcreemed

to characteristic

perfection;

utterly untouched

by Time’s pitiless

transit

Coy-smile flirtation

Determinedly

searching for…

questioning…

Dream within dream,

thrice calling.

Ever & always welcome,

dear Mister Leach –

please, do visit again.

Still, waking curiosity

compels:

Who are you to me?

— C.Birde, 1/22

Lullaby — An Image

A close-up photograph of birds' footprints in snow.
“Lullaby” — C.Birde, 1/22

“Your small cousins

have composed

a new lullaby…”

She shifted

beneath

snowy blankets.

“Let’s sing…

Together…”

— C.Birde, 1/22

Tongues — A Poem

An artfully altered photo of a Blue Jay peering down from its perch, a peanut in its beak.
“Blue Jay” — C.Birde, 1/22

Blue Jay speaks

in voice of Crow

& Red Tail Hawk…

Vivid notes of lapis,

flinty hematite,

& earthy jasper drift

in downward mix

& tuck themselves

in ear & thoughts

of self-assessment

My own song I’ve

disguised to keep

a thorny Peace…

Once circumscribed

to silence

Fated to wither in

the nest

No More.

The words of Love

fly from my tongue

plumed, bright-

feathered,

& in full voice.

— C.Birde, 1/22

Primeval — A Dream

An artfully altered photo of a giant Sequoia, soaring skyward.
“Primeval” — C.Birde, 7/17

Trees primeval upward soar,

exceed the vast sky’s vault

Thunderous in size

Forthright

Unbent

They filter thrumming veins

of green-gold, dusted light

Press palms to rough-furred

sorrel bark while standing

ankle-deep in moss & slow-

uncurling ferns & hear –

like a breath against the skull –

soft inquiry:

“Moon or Sword?

    What will you place in

     my heartwood?

     Which will be your gift

     of me?”

— C.Birde, 1/22