Companion — A Poem

“Sassafrases” — C.Birde, 5/24

In May’s unclouded light,

I walked my grief –

short leash heart-tethered

Cool blue breath against

my skin reverberating

with our paired gait’s

catch & swing

Strides synchronized

etched from fragrant air

Each, a pulse of beauty,

a tear shed for my own,

for the world’s suffering

Heart-leash short tethered

wending home again

On my doorstep –

patient, casting shadow

Nowhere to go, I let it in.

— C.Birde, 5/24

Lilac Dream — A Poem

“Lilacs” — C.Birde, 5/24

Lilac dream –

each branch’s whole,

flowers within flowers unfolding

as dream within dream

recalled

forgotten

yet entirely dreamed,

perfumed, &

growing.

— C.Birde, 5/24

Pomegranate Sleep — A Poem

An augmented thumbnail sketch of a partially peeled pomegranate.
“Pomegranate Thumbnail” — C.Birde, 1/24

Red & ripe & weighty,

a convexity

in my hands’ cup

Red-gem arils snugged

within thick skin,

protected

She,

Persephone,

swallowed six seeds,

slept through two

seasons,

awoke refreshed

in Spring

The fruit’s thick peel

falls away,

red-skinned white flesh

patterns the counter

I wolf scarlet-bright beads

by the handful,

greedy for slumber curative

& deep,

greedy for uninterrupted

dreaming.

— C.Birde, 1/24

Reflection — A Poem

“Cherry Bloom” — C.Birde, 5/23

Blush

of pink,

palely reflected

in down-turned

petals,

conceals this

persistent

awkwardness

of being.

— C.Birde, 5/23

Farewell — A Poem

“Her Last Day” — C.Birde, 5/23

Farewell

to green-fringed

sheltering limbs…

The hole hewn

from the gray sky,

where you stood

a hundred years,

cannot contain

your absence.

— C.Birde, 5/23

Falls — A Poem

“Falls” — Pisgah Nat’l Forest, 4/23

Falls,

fallen,

falling down

d

o

w

n

into the depths

of self.

— C.Birde, 4/23

Last Day of February — A Poem

artfully altered photo of snow covered hedge, tree, and lawn.
“February Snow” — C.Birde, 2/23

February

snowfall

f

  a

     l

         l

falling down

d

  o

     w

        n

down white

molt

of Winter’s

wings.

— C.Birde, 2/23