Many things happen rain or shine, but rainbows are so special they happen
outdoors
Fast rising east
sunrise glows in carpe-diem pink
aflame with marbled-gold moments
Early bird
That trusty mockingbird —
you can set your sundial by it.
Verdin
the tiny birdie verdin
wears his heart on his sleeve
and sunshine on his head —
a hyper handsome hopper
with acrobatic feats —
calling chip chip chip
and singing dulcet tsweets
Self-expression
in the desert southwest
doves call themselves out
and say their own names
in self-identifying syllables —
two in “ink-uh” of the little inca
eurasian’s 3-noted “you-ray-zhun”
four of the “white-wingèd dove”
and the unmistakable five notes
of the song “mourning dove i am”
Fight for our lives
like wild animals, I am happy hiding
the artificial frightens my being —
but it is time to fight for the earth
scrambled blackout poetry created from Rafe Martin, Birdwing, 2005
Vernal ode to euphony
nests bustling in leafy trees
eggs cracking open tenderly
vernal music on the breeze
excitement buzzing busily
tree roots drinking merrily
underground working tirelessly
restless flowers pacing weeds
manufacturing aromatherapies
reds purples yellows greens
poppies blooming endlessly!
WILD’ness
WILD
is beautiful
wild is free —
wilderness is not
an empty canvas
for Man to do
what he will —
wilderness is
an already full canvas
painted by God
Stragglers
bird alights on branch
mottled-lit golden leaves fall
drifting like feathers
Alone in the city
my heart is dying
for this gambel’s quail crying
lovesick for a mate
Desert winter storm
tiny icy hail
falls slantwise through streaming sun
melting to rainbow
Fresh air & birdsong
An open window is good company, like the burning candle of Lichtenberg.
“Man loves company even if it is only that of a small burning candle.”
Icy gaze
owls fierce in summer
are fiercer yet in winter —
it’s mating season