Birds

From above and far away I heard them

Birds!

I’ve seldom heard birds sing

these birds didn’t disappoint. 

Their twittering conversations filled 

the warm spring afternoon, 

rising above the sound of humanity 

on foot, on bicycles, 

orange mo-peds, 

shining chrome and black motorcycles, 

cars, vans and trucks washed 

in the dirt of splashing into spring

Above it all

the birds took my heart to the sky.

“The trills and trickles of song from the birds in the big tree 

above her seemed in perfect accord with her mood.”

~ L.M.Montgomery,  Anne of the Island, 1915

Strength

When clouds bubble up 

from behind the roof tops,  

I wonder if somewhere 

there is a thunderstorm or 

if they are just sitting 

quietly gathering strength. 

From the distance land to sky 

I can only wonder. 

When I work the muscles of my body, 

I feel the soft strength that is me. 

Guy wires that move my frame 

as though I were a puppet and 

I, the puppeteer. I can only wonder 

what will allow me to gather strength.

“It feels good pulling on these muscles, 

it feels better than worrying about who is watching.”

Alain Bremond-Torrent, author

A Spring Day Feeling

April 26, 2024

The sun shone;

ice and snow melted; 

the spring day feeling 

of opening up, 

tidying up and 

welcoming little spaces 

closed up by clutter and 

a long week of a foggy head. 

Housework has never called to me, 

but the bits and pieces of disorder 

nudge my soul and, 

Spit Spot (a Mary Poppins reference)

the laundry washes, dries, folds

is spirited away to drawers and cupboards 

garbage out to the bin in the alley 

as I chat with my neighbour

paper jam in the printer is studied and unjammed

The sun shone and the wind became just a breeze.

“Spring is magic ~ sweet to the senses & easy to celebrate.”

~ Susan Branch, Vineyard Seasons: More from the Heart of the Home

'Til the New Day Dawns

Slow down when the noise 

of the world is too big 

Slow down when your heart 

races down into your feet. 

Slow down and breathe 

calm into your toes. 

Breathe deeply, calmly 

to ease into late evening. 

Close your eyes and sleep 

'til the new day dawns.

“Wise and slowly; they stumble that run fast.”

~ Hugh Howey, Wool Omnibus

Tested

August, 2018

Sprouts

from seeds

filled with life

grow as we grow 

in sun or storm 

on prairie 

or mountain side 

our strength tested 

found wanting 

or willing to grow

“…surrender to your experience and 

the softness that keeps you strong.”

~ Jadine Lydia, The Thing about Resilience

@jadinelydia - original poem

Peace

Despite the noisy chaos 

    of this world

peace settles on my heart 

as a dove white feather ~ 

to tie myself to

the rattle of swords, 

the devastation of homes 

is of no help.

Pleas for help rain down. 

I feel overwhelmed until 

I remember my belief in 

ripples of calm each life can offer.

Despite the noisy chaos 

    of this world

peace settles on my heart

as a dove white feather.

“There is peace even in the storm.”

~ Vincent van Gogh

Grey Clouded Air

December 2022

Imagination blown 

by the wild wind 

on this April snow day 

is as light as the flakes that do 

their forced dance and race 

through grey clouded air. 

Were this December, 

the reality would be welcomed. 

Today, if I forget 

the date on the calendar, 

I can see the beauty and 

welcome the crisp cold air 

on my face

pulling my woolen collar 

up to my chin, 

wrapping my arms 

around myself in a warming hug.

A single tiny bird 

ignores snow and wind 

to flit from tree to tree 

before flying away.

“Snow in April is abominable, like a slap 

in the face when you expected a kiss.”

~ L.M.Montgomery, Anne of Ingleside (1939)

Jet’s Planting

 

Planted

Tiny cat grass seeds 

in a makeshift flower pot. 

No need for a green thumb 

or a wide acre of soil 

only this little pot filled with 

soil for the little seeds to be 

harvested by my kitty’s sharp teeth.

“Grass must bring life.”

~ Susan L. Marshall,

All the Hope We Carry

Hints

 

Another blank page

Words beg for release

Mere hints of poetry    

“There are no blank words. Just blank pages.”

                ~ Hadinet Tekie, poet and artist                            

At My Front Door

There is always a story

in every day 

routine and nondescript. 

Like the fellow 

who delivers my groceries ~

always a big smile, 

   a happy voice and

     a cheerful aura. 

Black hair wild and wiry.

His bulk carries my groceries

and his cheerfulness easily

~ this is a story at my door.

“We’re all stories, in the end.”

~ Steven Moffatt, 

Scottish TV writer and producer