Cherry Tree — An Image

An artfully altered photo of an old cherry tree, its limbs laden with blushing blossoms.
“Cherry Tree in Bloom” — C.Birde, 4/22

“I arrive

in a flurry of petals,”

her voice sailed,

sweetly scented,

“White, pink, yellow…

given to you

on April’s

tossing breeze.”

— C.Birde, 4/22

Sage — An Image

An artfully altered photo of grand, old oak trees, not yet leafed out.
“The Sisters” — C.Birde, 4/22

“We are tied,

you & I,

“inextricably intertwined,”

her words pulsed

with Time’s unfolding,

“Your actions writ

upon my canvas.

Be wise.

Be kind.”

— C.Birde, 4/22

The Month of Mars — A Poem

An artfully altered photo looking up the trunk of an old, bare-leafed oak tree, its torso stroked with shadow.
“Oak, March” — C.Birde, 3/22

O, March —

mercurial & a-brim with bluster

Encompassing

emotions’ scope, depth, & wide,

sweeping swings

Animate

Empathic

Passionate & weeping aloud

the world’s griefs,

shouting its humble victories

Accept me –

nearly as buoyant,

at turns razor-edged &

tearful in my seclusion;

your mortal expression,

your devotee.

I am yours.

— C.Birde, 3/22

Magnolia in Bud — A Poem

An artfully altered photo of pink and white Magnolia buds...
“Magnolia Buds” — C.Birde, 3/22

Magnolia –

tipped tight in white-

wax buds,

Arboreal candelabra

awaiting Vernal

flint & tinder’s

strike.

— C.Birde, 3/22

Absence — A Poem

An artfully altered photo -- mirror image -- of a tree, with limbs linking.
“Mirror Maple” — C.Birde, 1/22

Trees,

dark-stroked

against a sky obscured

& damply blotted,

lift expectant limbs…

Bare

Exposed

Stripped

to elemental truth.

I stand beneath…

In search of self

& soul

& all that’s sacred

amongst knotted roots

& last’s year’s fallen

leaves.

— C.Birde, 1/22

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

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…”

|

|

|

— C.Birde, 10/21

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

Queen Oak — An Image

An artfully altered photo looking up the trunk of a great oak tree and through its leafy limbs.
“Queen Oak Tree” — C.Birde, 9/21

“I have written

your name

in a hundred million

places…

Blade of grass…

Curl of breeze…

The underneath

of a white oak’s leaves…”

Her wink scattered

beams of light.

“Are you

l o o k i n g?”

— C.Birde, 9/21

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