Sparrow — A Poem

An artfully altered photo of a blue pottery bird feeder.
“Blue Globe Feeder” — C.Birde, 11/22

Upon

a bed of seeds,

she rests,

folded within

the blue globe’s

hollow,

cracks open

striped hulls

& eats

But,

at my approach,

a l a r m –

shell fragments

scatter

She seeks escape,

rehatches

her small self

on wings

          unfurled,

                    stretched

                              o  u  t.

— C.Birde, 11/22

Hum — A Poem

A photo of a tumble of wiled asters.
“Asters” — C.Birde, 10/22

Clouds

of bee-pricked asters

hum

while your voice –

     frilled in petals

     & promises –

carries

beyond the window’s

tidy panes,

weaves

through the bloom

& sway of October’s

violaceous hue

And

though I reach

for you,

this separation –

     seen,

     unseen –

remains.

— C.Birde, 10/22

Little Dog Walks — A Poem

An overhead photo of a little brown dog (and one of her human's feet) standing in green grass and clover.
“Stand & Walk” — C.Birde, 9/22

Near

the stop sign’s

scarlet flare,

our feet

in a depth

of green,

green

grass

Patient –

     sensing,

     feeling,

     recollect-

     ing steps –

we stand

& wait for

the sweep

of Autumn’s

mournful

wings

to      p a s s.

— C.Birde, 9/22

Crickets’ Song — A Poem

A photo of a swampy meadow filled with greenery, beneath a broad blue sky.
“Rattlesnake Meadow, Summer” — C.Birde, 8/22

I could sleep

away the season’s end,

head upon this pillow

of bronze ferns

& oak leaves turned

the color of doeskin,

Cheek pressed

to this still-green bed

of moss as you sing

against my ear

Please, let me remain

undisturbed until

the heat has passed

Though this means

I must wait

another year to hear

your song.

— C.Birde, 9/22

Endless — A Poem

A landscape photo of dried earth and clumps of tough, yellowing grasses beneath a white-cloud-filled, rainless, blue sky.
“August Plains” — C.Birde, 8/22

Overhead,

the Dog Star pants

& prowls a sky stretched

blue & rainless,

casts unhurried shadows

upon once-green grasses

stitched through

with summer’s leonine heat

turned rasping,

wheaten.

— C.Birde, 8/22

Here — A Poem

A photograph taken in Rocky Mountain National Park -- foreground of scrubby grasses, middle ground of conifers, background of mountains & bye sky.
“Old Fall River Road,
Rocky Mountain National Park” — C.Birde, 8/22

Locusts

     applaud

our efforts at the fringe

of pinetops & wind

set sharp against

the mountain’s

falling hip,

with thinned

& thinning blue sky

     caught

about our crowns

& wildflowers

nodding,

     sighing at our

earth-dusted feet –

“Yes,

oh, yes,

you’re truly

     h e r e.”

— C.Birde, 8/22

“Wildflowers, RMNP” — C.Birde, 8/20

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

Light — An Image

“Tourne Light” — C.Birde, 6/22

She wrapped me

in Summer’s cloak,

pressed a star’s kiss

to my brow,

& said:

“Do not let

your grief

douse

your light.”

— C.Birde, 7/22

The Four Sisters — An Image

A photo looking up through the green-leafed canopy of four old oak trees.
“The Four Sisters” — C.Birde, 6/22

“Come with me…”

she took my hand,

drew me through her

birdsong wake.

“We’ll sit together

at the Four Sisters’ knees

& listen

to their green-leafed

memories.”

 

— C.Birde, 6/22