Simultanesousness — An Image

A photo of two young sassafras trees, side-by-side, as if in conversation.
“Sassafrasses” — C.Birde, 5/22

“All things exist…”

She held the wind

in her arms,

& song in her hair;

her stance gathered

forests, rivers,

mountains.

“…in a state of

simultaneous-

ness.”

— C.Birde, 5/22

Wisdom — A Poem

An artfully altered photo of a Garter Snake moving through the leafmold along the forest floor.
“Garter Snake” — C.Birde, 5/22

Four snakes –

Slim black

          ribbons

of tongue-

flicking,

flexible life

          scrawled

across my path:

Four compass

          points

of blessing

Four strokes

          of wisdom

Four opportun-

ities to shed

          my skin

& begin

          again.

— C.Birde, 5/22

Blue Jay — A Poem

An artfully altered photo of a wooded path strewn with autumn's leaves... most trees are bare, still, but for the young beeches that held onto their leaves all season.
“Peace” — C.Birde, 3/22

Blue Jay relays

news

of his poor

bruised

broken heart,

mewing

from oak tree’s

boughs…

Abide,

empyreal cousin –

the morrow stirs

with hope

of Spring.

— C.Birde, 3/22

Perspective — A Poem

An artfully altered photo of a spider's web, pearled with raindrops, against a background of wood & water.
“Web” — A.Schnitzler, 12/21

Distance reveals

the web’s complexity

of form –

those anchors of support,

the strands that spiral

in & down;

Grants the space to see

the pattern of the weave –

the warp & weft of whys,

wherefores that catch

upon proximity.

Grateful of perspective –

room to feel & breathe;

Anxiety of being held

forever fixed in place,

subtracted.

— C.Birde, 1/22

Absence — A Poem

An artfully altered photo -- mirror image -- of a tree, with limbs linking.
“Mirror Maple” — C.Birde, 1/22

Trees,

dark-stroked

against a sky obscured

& damply blotted,

lift expectant limbs…

Bare

Exposed

Stripped

to elemental truth.

I stand beneath…

In search of self

& soul

& all that’s sacred

amongst knotted roots

& last’s year’s fallen

leaves.

— C.Birde, 1/22

Beh(o/e)ld — A Poem

An artfully altered photo of a field of tall sunflowers against a cloudy blue sky.
“Sunflowers” — C.Birde, 9/21

A thousand suns

lift their heads

& turn as one

Unseeing

Unblinking

Bee-scented

rays a-tremble

Attuned to

unfathomable

source &

soundless

song.

— C.Birde, 9/21

Wander — An Image

An artfully altered photo of a meadow, towering in a bloom of coneflowers, tickseed, black-eyed Susans, and evening Primrose.
“Meadow” — C.Birde, 8/21

“Go,

Stray,

Wander

as you must &

as you need…”

Her voice vined,

fruited

with wild grapes.

“When you return,

I will

astonish.”

— C.Birde, 8/21

Fledging Wisdom — A Poem

An artfully altered photo of a cluster of hot pink miniature roses.
“Roses” — C.Birde, 8/21

There –

there it is…

Rub of grit

Scrape of coal

Shard

at the center

of all things

Grief

in the rose’s

soft pleated heart

Unease

in summer’s blue

unclouded sky

Gather it up,

this unfledged

wisdom

Safeguard &

croon to it

Greet it gently &

grant it

a safe space

to root &

grow.

— C.Birde, 8/21

Holding Light — An Image

An artfully altered image of an oak tree, lit up by the setting sun's light.
“Holding Light” — C.Birde, 5/21

“Despite our flaws –

large & small,

real or imagined –”

her voice swayed

on mild breeze,

“we each hold

the capacity

of great

light.”

— C.Birde, 5/21

Swoon — A Poem

An artfully augmented photo of blooming lilacs, up close.
“Lilacs” — C.Birde, 5/21

Lilac perfume

& swoon

of chartreuse,

pollen-ed

air…

A-swim

& stippled in

Spring’s ritual

laving…

Every pore

aware.

— C.Birde, 5/21