Bird Dance - Carla Musik

[Larry Robinson]

Bird Dance
 
Each morning I observe
birds coming and going 
outside on my deck

I sit out in the sun and sip my ginger tea
and notice them tentative in the trees
all around- maybe one or two stealthfully
sneaking in quickly for a seed or two

When I retreat to watch from inside, 
writing at my table gazing out 
through the double sliding glass doors,
they eagerly arrive-
Singles-usually a large blue scrubjay or
a black and white red-capped woodpecker
who chases everyone else away-the bullies
The smaller ones- towhees, finches, chickadees
and more mostly brown with a touch of orange or yellow
come in pairs or trios or more.
Now and then a hummingbird hovers circling around 
and sips at a nearby flower

The winged adventurers are calling 
their family and friends to the party-
Several on the ledge, a couple on the feeder,
one at a time in the nearby hanging birdbath-
a sip from the edge or a dunk plunging in and out,
the water glistening on their flapping wings.
They chirp and chatter calling to each other 
like welcome friends-


I have my field guides at the ready trying 
to learn a few of their names-
Why can’t they announce themselves on arrival?!
    Good morning giant lady, I’m a Red-breasted Nuthatch.
    Hello there, we’re Black-headed Grosbeaks.
    Hey, look out!  I’m a Downy Woodpecker.

Daily I stumble along, I would be an Audubon Society disgrace-
I can’t seem to identify them and remember their names
BUT I enjoy the life energy they bring and share
Reminding me that
Yes, I’m alive and grateful to be here.

	- Carla Musik