And finally my
Bird friends awakened
Singing their melodies
In harmony as
They fly weave
And bounce from
Shrub to fence
To tree to
Shrub woodpeckers tap
Morse code off
In the distance
As ducks waddle
And quack at
The edge of
The pond oh
If only you
Could hear this
Symphony you’d fall
In love with
These birds as
I already have
This morning’s sky
Wears ear muffs
Everything is grayed
By cloudy voices
There is no
Definition as though
You’re peering into
A mucky pond
High above you
Even the tall
Trees have taken
On black pallor
As though they
Tarnished quickly overnight
Perhaps if sun
Can burn through
We will have
A happy day
If not it’s
Time for a
Blanket and tea
The first chance
Of feeling today’s
Sun belongs to
The tallest of
Tall trees here
Just now their
Canopies are squinting
In early day
These tall trees
Stand head and
Shoulders above others
Like gangly taller-than-mates
Eighth graders in
Class photos the
Dawn sun moves
Across these trees
Like a slow
Yellow caterpillar across
The leaves of
It’s lunch eventually
Scorching everything with
The noon heat
Low slung sun
Briefly shaded by
Clouds casts golden
Gilt on the
Bushy tops of
Tall trees like
Shave cream on
My father’s brush
Lathered and waiting
To moisten low
Clouds that hang
Like a five
A.m. shadow while
Daisies yawn and
Stretch slowly opening
Like Chinese fans
This quiet morn
Here in Charlotte
And there I
Found you in
The forest glen
Standing tall majestic
Tree limbs spread
Like many arms
Cut you down
I did and
Made you mine
Decorated you with
Memories and small
Star like lights
Sang to you
Surrounded you with
Gifts tied in
Pretty colors and
Then after the
Season I undressed
You and left
You curbside why
Do I waste
Such beauty on
My own folly
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 