Shred — A Dream

Photograph of shredded bits of newspaper piled in a heap.
“Shred” — C.Birde, 3/1

World

of black & white

entirely comprised

of newspaper

torn to bits,

shredded & strewn

over the landscape,

covering trees &

earth & every little

growing thing

as far as the eye

can see.

An

earth-formed sea

of black & white –

delineated,

bisected,

by a raised ridge

of torn words &

images pressed

into a pastiche

spine.

Carefully

tread this crude

catwalk

gangplank

promenade

balance beam.

Follow one

behind the other

‘til from behind

a copse of print-

wrapped trees

a she moose looms,

protective of her

calf…

Veer off

the path & wade

through the swamp

of printed words

that tugs

at boot & stride.

See there,

within the shred

of black & white,

the doe at rest,

& tucked within

her body’s curve,

a solitary small

& spotted

fawn.

— C.Birde, 3/1

Harmony — A Poem

A close-up photo of a bird's tracks impressed in snow.
“Track” — C.Birde, 2/21

Black crow

white snow

sound & silence

soot & wonder

on peaked roof

together perched

in echo of

each other.

— C.Birde, 2/21

Memoriam — A Poem

An augmented photo of a snowy night, looking down a cleared brick walk and through a snow-covered garden arch.
“Night’s Snowy Arch” — C.Birde, 2/21

A year

has passed

since you left

this earth

& though

I miss you now

no more than

yesterday

& no less than

tomorrow,

today I’m

pricked

with

t

e

a

r

s

.

.

.

— C.Birde, 2/21

Patter — An Image

A photography of a squirrel's tracks in the snow.
“Gray Squirrel Tracks” — C.Birde, 2/21

“My heart beats

in all creatures,

far & near

seen & unseen…”

Her words hung

in the air

betwixt snowflakes

falling.

“My heart beats

in

you.”

— C.Birde, 2/21

Snow Angel — A Poem

A photograph of a blue jay's -- wings and feet and tail -- impression in snow.
“Blue Jay’s Snow Angel” — C.Birde, 2/21

Squinting eyes

against a truth

so bright

it blinds,

like snow piled

deep and white

and wide

Depth increases

inch by inch

Another layer

falls

With tilt of head

& shift of stance

behold

the shadows

cast –

indelible,

inarguable

Fall in,

fall in

Arms and legs,

widespread,

impress angelic

range.

Fall in-

to insight and

arise renewed

again.

— C.Birde, 2/21

Strike a Pose — A Dream

Photo of the Hanged Man Tarot Card in reversed form.
“The Hanged Man (Reversed) — Rider Tarot Deck” — C.Birde, 2/21

Right foot here,

Left foot there

Spine straight

Hips square

Ribs knit

Chest lifted

Earth rooted

Heaven crowned…

Observe Tree Pose

& clearly see

similarity

to The Hanged Man

(reversed):

Release

Detachment

Altered View

Fear of Sacrifice

Drishti set

on the horizon

Balance & surrender

Vain struggles cease

Find, in equilibrium,

freedom to embrace

this change

in perspective,

freedom to accept

what

is.

— C.Birde, 2/21

Tracks — An Image

An augmented photograph of animal tracks in the snow.
“Tracks” — C.Birde, 2/21

Though

I tried I

could not find

her

for the depth of

snow that had

fallen…

— C.Birde, 2/21

Wounds — A Poem

A close up augmented photo of a Bleeding Heart's single bloom.
“Bleeding Heart” — C.Birde, 2/21

Lodged

between the ribs

So near the heart’s

sweet beating

Ember

of doubt and fear

Smoldering

Compressed &

prone to flare

at least provocation

Legacy of grief

Invisible

Unseen

Forged so long ago

Catching at all

kindling

Acknowledge it

Smother it

Cover it or

cut it out

It won’t be doused

Ever raw

Lodged & always

burning.

— C.Birde, 2/21

Dreams in Snow — An Image

A photo taken at night -- backlit; a tree casts its shadow forward over a snow-covered hedge upon a smooth surface of snow.
“Snow Shadow” — C.Birde, 2/21

“I shall bury myself

beneath blankets

white & deep…”

Her voice —

adrift,

muffled,

indistinct.

“& begin

to dream spring

into being…”

— C.Birde, 2/21