Shoes — A Dream

A fragmented photo of a pair of sneakers.
“Shoes” — C.Birde, 6/21

Shoes

sturdy, dancing, & lightweight

for hiking, travelling, work, & play;

high-heeled, smooth-soled, steel-toed

Shoes

as comfortable, common, & tough

that support, pinch, bind, or rub

Goody-two shoes

Walk-a-mile shoes

Give-the-boot shoes

Waiting for the other to drop

Or,

dozens & dozens & dozens

of brand-new, white soled

canvas shoes –

tongues & laces lolling –

heaped, mounded, & piled

in a small mountain

of implied choice,

& not a matched

mate among

them.

— C.Birde, 6/21

Will — An Image

An artfully altered photo of Sweet William Pinks, dotted with raindrops.
“Sweet William Pinks” — C.Birde, 6/21

“I will rain,

&

I will reign.”

Her voice

called storms

& stroked

stone.

“As

I

will.”

— C.Birde, 6/21

Poise — An Image

An artfully altered photo of a moss-clad tree in a ferny woodland.
“Green Lace & Green Velvet” — C.Birde, 5/21

“Green lace

& green velvet

are

timeless…”

she mused,

wearing both

to spellbinding

effect.

— C.Birde, 5/21

Damage Done — A Dream

An artfully altered close-up photo of a steering wheel.
“Wheel” — C.Birde, 5/21

The truck’s cab,

sparse, dark;

eighteen-wheeled,

manual efficiency,

parked

in a half-filled lot

of compact cars –

automotive giant

amongst

Lilliputians.

Seat,

adjusted.

Mirrors,

angled.

Seat belt,

clicked.

Wheel –

smooth & sleek –

firmly gripped.

When,

without warning,

she leans from

the passenger seat,

grabs the wheel,

stomps the gas…

With belch & roar,

the truck

l  u  r  c  h  e  s

left & forward.

Scrape

of plastic…

Screech

of metal…

The car below –

dwarfed,

overwhelmed –

buckles,

breaks.

Shake her free,

grab the wheel.

Release

the accelerator.

Correct course,

assert control,

& straighten.

Too late,

     too late.

The smaller car –

wrecked,

warped.

The damage,

done.

— C.Birde, 5/21

Incantation — An Image

An artfully altered photo, looking down the throats of green ferns
“Ferns” — C.Birde, 5/21

“Now

the ferns

have uncurled,

I go to join

their

green-tongued

incantation…”

A smile alit

in her soft,

wild eye.

“Come

with

me.”

— C.Birde, 5/21

Bliss — A Poem

An artfully altered photo of an Eastern Chipmunk.
“Eastern Chipmunk” — C.Birde, 5/21

To sit outdoors

in cool spring

air

wearing a shawl

of sunlight

& accomplishing

no more

than the disport

of small friends

unseen

in a season’s span,

in their garments

fresh & shining –

bliss.

— C.Birde, 5/21

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

Catbird Summerland — A Poem

An artfully altered image of pink dogwood blossoms.
“Dogwood” — C.Birde, 5/21

From the pink

dogwood,

dropping notes –

bright petals,

raindrops,

shadows

onto clear water –

that fall in explicit,

random pattern;

reclaiming

Summerland

through song –

recognizable,

indefinable.

My heart unbolts…

At last,

     at last…

I’ve awaited

your

     return.

— C.Birde, 5/21