Burnished — An Image

An artfully altered photo looking through the trees of shadow-stroked, leaf-carpeted earth.
“Burnished” — C.Birde, 10/21

“Yes,

day’s length shrinks,

pinched

at either end…”

Her leaf-crowned head

rustled agreement.

“…but I’ve burnished

the light to

g o l d…”

— C.Birde, 10/21

Twilight Bloom — A Poem

An artfully altered photo looking skyward through a towering screen of bee-filled, pale purple asters.
“Asters” — C.Birde, 10/21

Autumn’s twilight

blooms,

this froth of asters,

bee-filled & spilling –

unbridled –

about the garden’s

unkempt edges

Lace-edged foam

of white,

lilac,

lavender

borne & tended

in courtly fashion

along an ebbing

surf of green…

— C.Birde, 10/21

Sing — An Image

An artfully altered photo of a tiny blue Asiatic Dayflower tucked amongst dry leaves against a stone wall.
“Asiatic Dayflower” — C.Birde, 10/21

“Do you hear me?”

Her voice ascended –

russet,

orange,

gold.

“I sing to you through

the trembling throats

of Autumn

wildflowers…”

— C.Birde, 10/21

Treasure — An Image

Close up of a pale yellow beech leaf on a mossy log.
“Treasure” — C.Birde, 11/20

“Look for me,”

her voice was sly

as a curl of leaf,

the shiver of wind,

“in unexpected places —

the hidden,

overlooked, and

small, silent spaces.

You will find me

there.”

— C.Birde, 11/20

Autumn Falls — An Image

Autumn leaves -- white oak, beech, maple -- collected in a pile.
“Fallen Leaves” — C.Birde, 11/20

“Days grow short,

& leaves fall

like rain…”

Her voice carried

in the breasts

of migratory birds.

“Yet I remain.

I remain.”

— C.Birde, 11/20

You — A Poem

Tourne Park's Rattlesnake Meadow, blanketed in fog.
“Misted” — C.Birde, 11/20

The earth wears gilt

Thy sky runs pewter blue

And I…

I think of you

My bones catch the whiff

of Winter and

rattle in their frame

And all my thoughts

my hopes

of future warmth —

like migratory birds —

return always

to you.

— C.Birde, 11/20

Peace — An Image

Looking up the trunk of a great Oak tree, framed in blue sky.
“Oak” — C.Birde, 11/2

“And when,

in moments of duress,

you forget me…”

Ferns & moss furred

her voice.

“Worry not.

For I

will always remember

you.”

— C.Birde, 11/20

Autumn’s House — An Image

Graceful tree in an autumn wood.
“Autumn Tree” — C.Birde, 10/20

“Gently, gently, gently.”

From Autumn’s house,

she called;

doors & windows

wide open flung.

“Your grasp –

so tight upon the latch –

restricts advancement

into

light.”

— C.Birde, 10/20

Well Come — A Poem

“Autumn Wood” — C.Birde, 10/20

Sweet tang of autumn air,

cidery

cool enough to drink

through all the senses

Leaves fall like small fading

stars

to light the path ahead

forward into unknowing

I lift my cup to you in welcome,

dear heart,

and pour a second.

I have been

waiting.

— C.Birde, 10/20

Impression — An Image

20191108_115426.jpg
“Impression” — C.Birde, 11/19

 

She had had

the impression,

she realized —

with the chill wind

against her

cheek

&

the leaves’

trembling refusal

to let go —

that it all

should last

l

o

n

g

e

r.

 

 

— C.Birde, 11/19