Tag Archives: Spring

NaPoWriMo 2013 #22, Earthday Prompt

TREE HUGGING

Stooping, parting grass, seeing Toad sitting in his doorway,
talking to a neighbor friend. Looking, each doorway containing
at least one Toad eavesdropping, living in this apartment cave
that joins in the center communal room.

Vine stairways climb up, held by toeholds in bark
to doorway of Bird who tries to fill never-ending beaks while
around and around Squirrel is racing, using huge tree arms
as platforms to the balcony made by amputation of an arm and
now a miniature meadow with grass, bushes and mushrooms.

Above, Woodpecker anoints my head as he tries to reach a
burrowing Insect and the Cardinal sings to bewitch a mate.
Almost leaves, ready to burst out and open tiny arms to Sun
who started this cacophony to begin with.

The tree so high I can barely see its top,
So old I cannot reach around it,
The bark twisting around in swirls
making faces at me.

I rest my hand on a root and feel the quiver of life.
I love you tree.

NaPoWriMo 2013 #13 – Yard Walking

On a Walk

Walking through the yard I see mud clumps from the plow.
I see brown puddles and untrimmed hedges,
Trash from cars, wet rotted leaves, brown, dead grass,
broken branches fallen to the ground, mud on my car.

Using sight and smell I smell green sprouting things
and the smell of the lake, minutes away, coming to me in the wind.
I smell cows finally let loose from winter confinement and
a recently cut tree fallen from a winter storm.

Seeing, smelling, touching I feel the softness of the new grass,
the bark of a happy tree, smooth buds that are baby leaves.
I touch the mud and it feels like the gritty mud pies I used to love
I touch the stump and feel the sticky sap

Seeing, smelling, touching, tasting I open my mouth and taste the fresh air
coming from the lake released from its skin of ice, almost like fish and seaweed.
I pull a blade of grass from the sheath and bite the tender end
and taste sweetness and light.

Seeing, smelling, touching, tasting and best of all hearing
I hear the birds and their calls to find mates. All the birds I’ve been missing.
Orioles and Cardinals and Mourning Doves, Chickadees with their summer song
So different than their winter song.

What would I do without these senses?
Which one, if I had a choice, would I choose to lose?
Deciding to enjoy them while I have them
I decide to explore the field.