Anxious Bird

Anxious Bird

I walk among effulgent flowers
  of May reds and violets, and
  an anxious black bird
  flees my track on rushing wings.
This gush of rough sound across my ears
  joins the ticks of bicycle gears
  and whirrs of a distant mower,
  as songbirds pipe and whistle.
Atop an arbor, another eyes me,
  large and taciturn, his sable beak turning,
  his wings of flint folded,
  and then is gone.
Small blue flowers hug cool shade,
  remembering the skies and sounds of spring.


(May 23–24, 2017)

National Poetry Month: ‘Barter’ by Sara Teasdale

In honor of National Poetry Month and a nice sunny day here in Oregon, here is one of my favorite poems by Sara Teasdale:

Barter

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BY SARA TEASDALE

Life has loveliness to sell,

     All beautiful and splendid things,

Blue waves whitened on a cliff,

     Soaring fire that sways and sings,

And children’s faces looking up

Holding wonder like a cup.

Life has loveliness to sell,

     Music like a curve of gold,

Scent of pine trees in the rain,

     Eyes that love you, arms that hold,

And for your spirit’s still delight,

Holy thoughts that star the night.

Spend all you have for loveliness,

     Buy it and never count the cost;

For one white singing hour of peace

     Count many a year of strife well lost,

And for a breath of ecstasy

Give all you have been, or could be.