The sparrow houses young in crevices come spring- the constant chatter is how he sparkles, and to the feeder he swarms – no fault of his own this internment on American shores. The bane of farmer and woodpecker the starling has from Europe brought a foreign sound to every native thing. The sweeping murmuration smallContinue reading “Birds of a feather”
Tag Archives: birds
Poem
A poem is like a bird as it takes off into flight, when you think you have it down, it reveals Aladdin’s touch. A merlin’s turning head transforms to peregrine, and sometimes all you see is a buteo sitting there. A sparrow singing songs is likely just to be sitting on a tree limb withoutContinue reading “Poem”
To boast or to keen
I do not know the language of threading terror – words that leap like fleas upon the trusty dog. This usage is beyond all playground shouting, Backroom brawling is now in the spectator’s vision. No scope is needed to identify the telltale white – underside, wing-bar, rump, all plainly seen. The grass in winter isContinue reading “To boast or to keen”
Red red cardinal
When the shark of Wall Street scratches for sparrow blood you know that you are living in a freaky Stepford world, with requisite manikin wives and all those lily-white pearls. The treatment of mother earth like a childhood piggy bank leaves nothing but hermit crab shells in humanity’s wake. The word magic that he usesContinue reading “Red red cardinal”
The gentle earth is hidden
The gentle earth is hidden when neurons run around; the junco and the goldfinch have disputed Niger’s perch; no hunger is abated when instinct makes a push, and then the Cheshire smile awaiting brings paw to claw and so we watch as dirt meets bone alas, forever more. The cats who owned me stayed insideContinue reading “The gentle earth is hidden”
Loons
This Michigan migrant sets up house in the most remote of places – no longer common in the land of a developer’s dream. A pair will stake their territory, warding off interlopers with yodels and tremolos. The eerie call of nature is necessary if they are to ensure enough food and security for the youngContinue reading “Loons”
Requiem redux
At the steps of Washington they stood- the people. I was with them, nothing but a marionette life in this sweet land. Instead of a preface Can you describe this? Yes I can* If in the distant future this aunt still resides in the mitten shaped from ice – if she is still here andContinue reading “Requiem redux”
Hero
Look through the crack and you can see her, a small brown bird- nothing fancy – with an insignificant chip to make herself known. Or perhaps you will see the eye of a rail, hiding in the rushes or hear the whinny of a sora out in the wetlands, letting you know she is thereContinue reading “Hero”
Saving the Kirtland
This is how it begins – Flip lip lip-lip-tiptip-CHIDIP. Intensify with vocal chords that sweeten the ears of that choosy ground nester and a woman with binoculars around her neck. He perches on top of the world – a little distant but close enough to hear and see and amaze the jack pines that surroundContinue reading “Saving the Kirtland”
Language and games
‘War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.’ George Orwell Over time these words of ours lose their meaning. Something bad is good while an entitlement isn’t earned. It is avarice that seeps like a leech, bleeding each letter – their corpses are dry. Lifeless and useless they become as a mockingbirdContinue reading “Language and games”
Anne's mediocre poetry 