Squadron — A Poem

Blue jay.jpg
“Blue Jay” — C.Birde, 11/16

 

Parting rain and fog, they come full scream,

announcing their arrival, alerting me.

Dressed in crests and admiralty blue,

they arrange themselves in ranks

I can’t discern –

white-tipped blue ornaments

scattered among the pine’s green-fringed limbs,

along the railing and the gutters’ edges;

when I am slow to respond,

on the screen door’s handle.

I’ve read that their coloration is due

to their feathers’ internal structure ,

the result of light interference;

that crushing destroys the feather’s blue –

a questionable desire.

And I’ve read that each individual

wears distinct markings,

a collar of black

encircling the nape of each neck,

dipping down and forward

along each white-bibbed front –

unique as a fingerprint.

Despite these facts, they remain a blur of blue.

The designated caller peers down expectantly

from the gutter’s edge.

We observe each other,

envoys of overlapping kingdoms.

We converse,

and the off-white feathers at his throat

ruffle and stir.

When I send the nut skyward,

he lifts on spread wings and fanned tail.

Fingertips to talons.

Midair he collects my gift, his prize.

The moment joins and connects us.

We are inseparable.

 

— C.Birde, 11/16

 

 

Departure — A Poem

Wintering Sky.jpg
“Wintering Sky” — C.Birde, 11/16

 

They uncurl,

upswept like blown leaves

against the wintering sky,

to scrawl their message

in an organization

of wings

that glitter and smoke;

a collective of separate,

weightless bodies

coalescing –

We must leave

       must leave

                 leave

While the sun yet feeds

their hollow bones

and propels

their starry wings,

that they might return

once the world renews

its tilt and they bear

new songs

to sing.

 

— C.Birde, 11/16

 

Quicksilver Wish — A Poem

 

 

Moonlight caught in tree branches.
“Light Among Branches” — C.Birde, 11/16

 

Awash in moonlight,

cupping hands and

tipping head to

drink

night-filtered threads;

Impatient,

awaiting

quicksilver particles to

penetrate

a wanting core,

I made my wish –

 

Mind, to broaden,

Heart, to soften,

Hand and

Tongue, to gentle,

Soul, to deepen.

I made my wish

for one

and

All.

 

— C.Birde, 11/16

 

Taste of Autumn — A Poem

Maple & Sky.jpg
“Maple & Sky” — C.Birde, 11/16

 

Bittersweet Autumn —

delicious tang of

gold, rust and ochre,

crisp toasted

and rustling

with each step,

served up

on a broad plate

of astonishingly

blue sky.

— C.Birde, 11/16

 

Lost in Thought — A Poem

fallen leaves.jpg
“Fallen Leaves” — C.Birde, 10/16

 

Thoughts roost –

blackbirds

in leafless trees at

sunrise,

gloss-winged and

catching light,

throats lodged

tight with

songs unsung

that fall

unheard,

discarded

as dried leaves

rusting softly

back to

earth.

— C.Birde, 10/16

Moon Stroll — A Poem

 

Adam's Moon.JPG
“Moon Stroll” — A.Schnitzler, 10/16

 

The wide night’s

white eye

shines bright

and I

slip by

below

unnoticed

but

for minstrel

crickets

who cease,

midway,

their

spacious

Autumn

song

to retrieve

anew

once I

have moved

along.

— C.Birde, 10/16