October Moon — A Poem

An artfully altered personal photo of the full Hunter's Moon, reflecting over our nearby reservoir.
“October Moon” — 10/30/23

That night,

the Moon’s pale & brilliant eye

shone wide across the water

And you three & you & I walked

through the end of an October

warmer than memory allowed

While the fallen, whispering leaves

of oak & sycamore followed us

on brisk & skittering feet.

— C.Birde, 11/23

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

Yawn — An Image

An artfully altered photo of an up-sweep of bare trees, their shadows stretched toward the viewer across drifts of fallen leaves.
“Yawn” — C.Birde, 12/21

“Drift with me

through Autumn’s end,”

she sighed

& said.

“Are you not

as tired

as I?”

— C.Birde, 12/21

Tea with Autumn — A Poem

An artfully altered photo of fallen leaves.
“Leaf-Fall” — C.Birde, 11/21

Underfoot,

restive shift & drift

of fallen leaves –

maple, oak, hickory.

Above,

broad sky stirred

to depth of blue

half-recalled,

unprecedented.

Linger, Autumn.

The kettle boils –

always have I time

for you.

— C.Birde, 11/21

Affirmation — An Image

An artfully altered photo of a Sweetgum tree, whose leaves have turned yellow and orange, against a blue sky.
“Sweetgum” — C.Birde, 11/21


“I shall wrap myself

in Autumn blue,

stitched all through

with gold,”

— her affirmation glittered,

scattered light

as she spoke —

“& inhale

the pale pink fragrance

of the season’s

final, faded

rose…”

— C.Birde, 11/21

Objection — A Poem

An artfully altered photo of a nest of reddish-purple, dried Oxalis leaves.
“Dried Oxalis” — C.Birde, 11/21

The oxalis –

brought indoors

before first frost,

to save it

from expiry –

drops leaves

       wine-dark

       shriveled

       paper-dry

Tongueless

Mute objection

of cold & dark

to come.

— C.Birde, 11/21

Exchange — An Image

An artfully altered photo of autumn trees reflected in a slip of creek-rippled pond.
“Exchange” — C.Birde, 10/21

“Come…”

Her invitation arrived

in a refrain of gold leaves…

“We’ll watch the exchange

of russet, ochre, bronze

for green…”

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— C.Birde, 10/21