The other morning I watched a small bird moving around looking for its breakfast. I could barely see the tiny thing deep in the pine tree on the north side of our house. From its very small size and overall shape I suspect it was a verdin, but I couldn’t get a good look at it… nor at the two or three others that I began to realize were also feeding in among the pine branches.
Half-Seen
Are you invisible,
Little bird?
All I can see is a wisp
In the shadows.
I know you are bobbing for bugs
Deep among the branches.
Verdin or bushtit,
How can I tell?
I think there are several of you,
Deep in the pine tree,
Making the branches dance
Ever so lightly,
Your breakfast revels
Scarcely stirring the needles.
Your flitting shadows–
Back and forth,
Up and down–
Are all I can see.
Yes, even though I can spy you,
You must be invisible,
Little birds!
The soft green prickly pear pads have a special presence by moonlight.
Moonlit Haloes
The pads of prickly pear
Make strange pale haloes in the moonlight
While the curve of time passes over
And eternity blinks for a moment.
"and eternity blinks for a moment."
that's a line to remember.
"While the curve of time passes over
And eternity blinks for a moment."
Wow.