Youth’s coverlet of red

spread over green grass

sprigged with violets

Scarf of owls concealing

eyes closed against

the sun…

Inhaling

Blue Jay’s declarations

& Cardinal’s belling call

White-throated sparrow’s

soft query

& House Sparrows’

collective colloquy

Catching

Chipmunk’s mild distress

scratched & scuffled

against the downspout’s

hollow

While,

the Wind prowls overhead

like an enormous cat,

weaves in & out & through

spruce’s bristled limbs

& maples’ fern-laced leaves

& reaches  d

                     o

                       w

                          n  to pluck

the tassled, blue-gray scarf

of sheltering owls with wings

o u t s p r e a d.

 

— C.Birde, 5/22