nature

Wisdom — A Poem

/ Carrie Birde / Leave a comment
An artfully altered photo of a Garter Snake moving through the leafmold along the forest floor.
“Garter Snake” — C.Birde, 5/22

Four snakes –

Slim black

          ribbons

of tongue-

flicking,

flexible life

          scrawled

across my path:

Four compass

          points

of blessing

Four strokes

          of wisdom

Four opportun-

ities to shed

          my skin

& begin

          again.

— C.Birde, 5/22

Immersion — A Poem

/ Carrie Birde / Leave a comment
An artfully altered photo of hedges, trees, grass, and sky.
“Immersion” — C.Birde, 5/22

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

 

Recognition — A Dream

/ Carrie Birde / Leave a comment
An artfully altered photo of a Sycamore tree against a blue sky filled with white clouds.
“Sycamore” — C.Birde, 4/22

“Describe the Mother…”

     “Describe the Queen…”

Their voices overlapped,

     currents on a cerebral shore,

deep blue & green in refrain.

Without hesitation, he answered:

     “She stepped from the dark

hollow of a great white Tree

     fully formed & radiant,

an image shimmering with

     intensity – a sight to see.”

He paused to catch his breath,

     then continued, surprised:

“I knew her instantly.”

— C.Birde, 4/22

Restless — A Poem

/ Carrie Birde / Leave a comment
An artfully altered image, as if formed in a kaleidoscope.
“Restless” — C.Birde, 4/22

Head full of noise

& unrelenting image

Kaleidoscopic colors

shift, alter

Scarlet, eggplant, umber

interrupted

Bright flashes of noise,

(pop of old house bones)…

Wind caught in trees

trapped, released

to whoosh free ‘round

blunt corners

Coyotes’ not-so-distant,

mournful song

Something else,

something other

(unidentifiable)

calls…

Sleep arrives at last…

then dreamsdreamsdreams

in concussive,

     hectic

           tumble.

— C.Birde, 4/22