Evergreen Wisdom — A Poem

An artfully altered photo of snow-limned trees.
“Winter Trees” — C.Birde, 2/22

Wind through

bare trees,

white-edged

with snow,

dispels illusion

of green things

quickening

growing

For a breath,

a moment only

Palms pressed

to maple’s trunk,

ears tuned to birds’

evolving song

Gazing slantwise,

past paper squares

& digital lines aglow,

beyond time

compressed,

confined…

Evergreen-wise

Heart-sight sees,

knows.

— C.Birde, 2/22

Jouissance — A Poem

An artfully altered photo of a silver teacup & saucer on an oak tabletop, catching morning light through a large bay window.
“Tea, Light” — C.Birde, 1/22

I sit

at smooth-planed oak,

mid-morning light

wandering through

bowed glass,

& listen —

to the curl of his voice

& the River’s sigh,

& the small birds’

close observations;

& listening,

I weep.

— C.Birde, 1/22

Tongues — A Poem

An artfully altered photo of a Blue Jay peering down from its perch, a peanut in its beak.
“Blue Jay” — C.Birde, 1/22

Blue Jay speaks

in voice of Crow

& Red Tail Hawk…

Vivid notes of lapis,

flinty hematite,

& earthy jasper drift

in downward mix

& tuck themselves

in ear & thoughts

of self-assessment

My own song I’ve

disguised to keep

a thorny Peace…

Once circumscribed

to silence

Fated to wither in

the nest

No More.

The words of Love

fly from my tongue

plumed, bright-

feathered,

& in full voice.

— C.Birde, 1/22

Primeval — A Dream

An artfully altered photo of a giant Sequoia, soaring skyward.
“Primeval” — C.Birde, 7/17

Trees primeval upward soar,

exceed the vast sky’s vault

Thunderous in size

Forthright

Unbent

They filter thrumming veins

of green-gold, dusted light

Press palms to rough-furred

sorrel bark while standing

ankle-deep in moss & slow-

uncurling ferns & hear –

like a breath against the skull –

soft inquiry:

“Moon or Sword?

    What will you place in

     my heartwood?

     Which will be your gift

     of me?”

— C.Birde, 1/22

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

Hush… — An Image

An artfully altered photo of an old suburb; trees and hedge, lawn and road blanketed in snow.
“Morning Snow” — C.Birde, 1/22

“Hush, now…”

She pulled the blanket

up beneath

her chin

with a whisper.

“I’m dreaming…”

— C.Birde, 1/22

Starlings — A Poem

An artfully altered photo representational of a flock of birds.
“Flock” — C.Birde, 12/21

Catching light,

those flecked dark wings speak

of seasons & distance

& time’s ceaseless passing

The cycles repeat

R e p e a t i n g

Gather me

aloft in collective’s embrace

of wingbeats & banking turns

& maneuvers unspoken,

understood by the whole

In spite of all,

I stand pinned below

attentive

The cycle repeating

R e p e a t s

— C.Birde, 12/21

Reflection — A Poem

An artfully altered
“Beeches” — C.Birde, 10/21

Observe,

so sweet a sylvan pair

that for decades,

having side-by-side

together grown,

now glide

smooth torsos

one against another,

entangle limbs,

& gently,

oh, so gently sigh…

Observe & know –

tis yet another

thee & I.

— C.Birde, 10/21

Solace — An Image

An artfully altered close-up photo of a Beech tree's leaves and seedpods, and a forested background.
“Beech” — C.Birde, 9/21

“You speak

in terms of months,

seasons,

years…”

She smiled greenly,

shook

her leaf-crowned

head.

“Oh, but, darling,

you are rooted

in the

eternal.”

— C.Birde, 9/21