Saturday, February 20, 2010

February

Well, I said I'd write a poem per month this year, and Nancy has recently reminded me of that promise.

***

On the morning of the 19th
some crazy bird in an evergreen tree
was singing like winter didn't matter anymore,
singing like Spring is a state of mind,

singing like the ice was gone on the river
and the river was leaping over its bottom-stones
and sounding like a belled sheep
among the trees;

singing like its nest was built and its chicks hatched
and all day it was happy and busy
with living;

singing like tomorrow would simply be
a deeply satisfying intensification of all the freshness of today,
with even the blue sky bluer and higher and deeper

and just enough breeze
to make a flower-scented river of air

on which to leap
as always

in faith

and singing.

***

By the way, the January poem is here. Almost all of my poems have something to do with birds!

9 comments:

Kathleen Overby said...

Singing like winter didn't matter any more........
Love it. :) Nancy is a good poetry encourager!

Anonymous said...

i love it...every little bit!

it is not at all late...it is right on time.

thank you so much for expressing this way. it is very enjoyable to read. you have a one of a kind way with words that is just wonderful.

just one correction to make... with the january poem link.

Lorrie said...

Fabulous poem! I liked it all the way through :-) More, more!

Erin said...

I just love the imagery in this! Wonderful!

Unknown said...

it sang, just like the bird -- was there, taking in the air... loved this, thank you

Heather said...

You gave voice to the wordless thoughts I had when watching a bright red bird landing nearby this past week.

Amazing.

sarah said...

This is truly lovely! Such a great flow to it.

Erin Hope said...

this is really good, i like the imagery.
and yesterday I think spring broke out down here. We all went and laid in the grass and sunshine.

Bob Spencer said...

Whoa, way too early for laying in the grass up here. First comes mud season, then--maybe--a brief but lovely Spring! Glad you liked the poem. If you want some great poetry which is generally the inspiration to my own, look up Mary Oliver.