Small… — A Poem

“Mini Mina Marigold” — C.Birde, 5/24

Small

in a vast world,

& aware of her diminutive size

No bravado here

Alert & wary

Yet ready to trust

when approached with

patience & kindness.

We’ve all been her.

— C.Birde, 5/24

Wolfshead — An Image

“Wolfshead” — C.Birde, 5/24

Wolf’s head

hung above the door

in welcome or warning?

I could not know before

putting hand to latch

& slowly moving forward.

— C.Birde, 5/25

October Moon — A Poem

An artfully altered personal photo of the full Hunter's Moon, reflecting over our nearby reservoir.
“October Moon” — 10/30/23

That night,

the Moon’s pale & brilliant eye

shone wide across the water

And you three & you & I walked

through the end of an October

warmer than memory allowed

While the fallen, whispering leaves

of oak & sycamore followed us

on brisk & skittering feet.

— C.Birde, 11/23

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

Caged — A Dream

An artfully altered photo of an antique birdcage.
“Cage” — C.Birde, 12/22

Uninvited,

     unexpected, they arrive…

Four men – stocky & absurd,

frowning in black overcoats

& bowler hats.

Crowding into the bathroom.

Bearing, between them,

a large birdcage –

ornate wire, curled & domed.

     On one perch,

     a red-gold parrot;

     on its twin,

     a second parrot’s skeleton;

     & on the cage’s floor,

     a lovebird contained,

          restrained,

     in a cube of wire mesh.

We done did the best we could.”

Muttering,

     shuffling, the men depart as,

tumbling from its perch,

the parrot falls,

flashing red-over-gold…

The lovebird remains…

Love,

trapped —

     caged within

     a cage.

— C.Birde, 12/22

Glove — A Dream

A close-up photo of an adult cicada.
“Cicada” — C.Birde, 8/22

I wore,

on my right hand,

a glove of cicadas –

glittering,

shimmering,

whirring in patterns

improbable…

A glove of dialogue,

& movement,

& transformation

undeniable…

And when I tried

to release my hand,

my fingers,

of those shrill insects,

they clicked

& chittered

& shifted

& sang;

with buzzing intent,

they bit

& stung;

endured as one;

would not be

shaken off or free,

denied or dislodged,

but rather would

r e m a i n.

— C.Birde, 8/22

Traffic — A Dream

An artfully altered photo of cars set against a mural background.
“Traffic” — C.Birde, 8/22

No matter

that I have no map,

no navigation system…

that the warp & weft

of intersecting highways

remains incomprehensible,

& the frantic push & pull

of traffic sweeps me along

with tidal force…

that strobes of light –

red & white & cautionary

yellow –

stream past in a confusion

of glancing blurs

reflecting off windshields,

steel-gray paneled bodies,

side- & rearview mirrors

dim with rain & half-light…

No matter.

I have foreseen

my arrival,

     all the same.

Woodlawn,

     I am coming.

— C.Birde, 8/22

Muse — An Image

A photo of a pink coneflower in a wildflower garden, coupled with a brilliant shaft of light.
“Coneflower & Light” — C.Birde, 7/22

With sidelong glance

& gesture,

she remarked:

I

am my own

M u s e.”

— C.Birde, 7/22

Excavation — A Dream

An artfully altered photo of a romantically derelict Irish castle.
“Cathedral” — C.Birde, 7/22

We ascend the gradual slope

of polished stone set between

transparent knee walls

(fingers trailing

brushed aluminum rails)

& leave behind

the noise & commotion

of lights & shops & cafés,

the bustle of others’ motion

& intent.

Here,

we pause to peer beyond

the glass-walled enclosure

of dark earth,

excavated oh so long ago;

to peer at the ancient stone-

boned cathedral held within.

Ghostly spires rise through

dusted half-light;

buttresses span a space of time

unmeasured;

battered curtain walls defend

the sacred, hollow space within.

Alone.

Solitary.

No witnesses, but we –

he

&

me.

— C.Birde, 7/22

Loyalty — An Image

An up-close photo of a white datura flower, in full bloom. A tiny insect traverses one of its petals...
“Datura” — C.Birde, 7/22

Wreathed

in pale,

lemon-scented Datura,

softly,

she spoke:

“May all your loyalties be

true,

worthy,

&

returned.”

— C.Birde, 7/22