#birdwatching
On a chimney crown in Northampton town,
Where frost has stitched the fields in white,
A traveler rests in feathered gown,
A lantern in the fading light.
From Arctic winds and tundra wide,
Where silver moons on silence gleam,
He's crossed the cold on steady glide,
A hunter threading winter's seam.
His amber eyes, two embers bright,
Scan hedgerow, meadow, drift, and eave;
Each shadow stirs his ancient sight,
Each whisper tells him what to seize.
He rides the dusk on soundless wing,
No branch too bare, no roof too steep;
The north still in him, listening,
While village windows blink and sleep.
A pale command against the sky,
He keeps the old and patient ways-
To watch, to wait, then fall and fly
Through brittle air and iron days.
And when the thaw begins its creep,
And robins test the tender ground,
He'll turn again to snowfields deep,
To star-shot dark without a sound.
Feb 13
Feb 13, 2026 at 11:11 AM UTC
i would love to
be able to identify
a bird from its call
or the shape of
wide-spread wings
as one flies overhead
in theory
it may seem impressive
but if i were to
successfully distinguish
a chiffchaff from
a willow warbler
based on the patterning
and colour of
its plumage
or the shape
and length of
its tail feathers
i struggle to think
of a single person
who would respond
with more than
an indifferent
mocking or
pandering "oh"
Apr 14, 2023
Apr 14, 2023 at 10:20 AM UTC
The bird-watcher hit
a pole in the meadow and --
now he lies in wait.
Mar 23, 2023
Mar 23, 2023 at 4:54 AM UTC
Awake to radiant hues
Sweet sunrise lullabies
Cherry red underbelly
Take me to your home in the cold night
Let us dance a fearless catwalk
Don’t hide in silence
Let’s dance
A naked truth uncovers us aloud
May 23, 2020
May 23, 2020 at 11:04 AM UTC
I bird watched
from my bedroom window.
Saw three thrushes
a dozen sparrows
and a crow.
My mother
was downstairs
getting dinner.
My little brother
was in the garden
digging up worms
to chase
his twin sisters with.
My other sister
was trying to knit
as Mother had
shown her.
Dad was at work.
I mused on
Sheila at school
how we sat
on the sports field
during lunch.
She said little
and I seemed
stuck for words.
She did say
she had wanted
to be a nun
but had changed
her mind.
She didn't
say why
she being too shy.
My friend Rolly
played football
he had wanted
me to play
but I was with her.
I watched
now and then
they lost
three goals to one.
I like her
slim figure
unhappy face
but to my mind
a neat behind.
May 29, 2017
May 29, 2017 at 3:47 AM UTC