I Have a Bird in Spring

 

Holly Meade

I Have a Bird in Spring   I have a Bird in spring Which for myself doth sing -- The spring decoys. And as the summer nears -- And as the Rose appears, Robin is gone. Yet do I not repine Knowing that Bird of mine Though flown -- Learneth beyond the sea Melody new for me And will return. Fast in a safer hand Held in a truer Land Are mine -- And though they now depart, Tell I my doubting heart They're thine. In a serener Bright, In a more golden light I see Each little doubt and fear, Each little discord here Removed. Then will I not repine, Knowing that Bird of mine Though flown Shall in a distant tree Bright melody for me Return.   Emily Dickinson   I don't know when I first began associating little birds with my children (maybe everyone does with theirs too).   It may have started with that poem "little birds" by e.e.cummings (first blog post) -  I've loved it for so long, and when my kids came along I saw them in the words.  However it developed, the fact is, a picture of a little sparrow or wren,  or any small bird, brings them immediately to mind.    So that print by Holly Meade, to me, is my daughter,  who would have been 13 years old today.    I think of her in that "truer Land" every day.

Lake Harvest

Holly Meade

Lake Harvest

Down on the flat of the lake

Out on the slate and the green,

Spotting the border of Erie's sleeping robe of silver-blue changeable silk,

In sight of the shimmer of silver-blue changeable silk,

In the sun,

The men are sawing the frosted crystal.

Patient the horses look on from their sleighs,

Patient the trees, down from the bank, darkly ignoring the sun.

Each saw sings and whines in a grey-mittened hand,

And diamonds and pieces of a hundred rainbows are strewn around.

Raymond Knister

Absolutely beautiful description. Real life is poetry when translated by someone like Knister. Poets have my respect for this reason - we need help to see beauty - sometimes poems are our only alchemy.

Little Birds

Welcome!

Holly Meade 2005

Little Birds - e.e. cummings

may my heart always be open to little
birds who are the secrets of living
whatever they sing is better than to know
and if men should not hear them men are old

may my mind stroll about hungry
and fearless and thirsty and supple
and even if it’s sunday may i be wrong
for whenever men are right they are not young

and may myself do nothing usefully
and love yourself so more than truly
there’s never been quite such a fool who could fail
pulling all the sky over him with one smile

A favorite. That line "may my mind stroll about hungry and fearless and thirsty and supple" is perfect, and seems like the best one could aspire to. Not being "right" or smart, but willing to risk being open, to sing with a full heart, and embrace the world as it is.