Winter Poem

Winter Poem
Nikki Giovanni

once a snowflake fell

on my brow and i loved
it so much and i kissed
it and it was happy and called its cousins
and brothers and a web
of snow engulfed me then
i reached to love them all
and i squeezed them and they became
a spring rain and i stood perfectly
still and was a flower

©1972 from My House.  Reprinted by permission of the author.

Bird Bath

In addition to food birds like water, for drinking, as we all do, but also for bathing, as we all should.

Watching the birds splash around can be just as entertaining as watching them eat.  If you live in a place where it snows you might think about putting up a heated bird bath.  Birds that don’t migrate, like cardinals, would appreciate it.

A couple of books I read suggested that birds are more attracted to moving water then stagnant.  They gave simple ways to provide moving water without a full blown fountain.  If you don’t have the yard space or the money for all that a simple basin on a stand is better than nothing.

Just like feeding though if you’re going to start you need to keep it up.  The birds will depend on that water being there.

That’s why bird watching is such a great hobby.  You have the responsibility of a pet, food and water every day, but you don’t have to clean up after them and they don’t smell up the house.  Unless you decide to get a little parakeet but that’s a blog for another day.

Pack out what you pack in.

Sources:

Common Birds of North America, Midwest Edition by James D. Wilson, Will Creek Press, Minocqua, WI ©2001

Backyard Bird Watching for Kids by George H. Harrison, Willow Creek Press, Minocqua, WI ©1997

Secret Unveiled

I found a wonderful little secret.  Lapham Peak State Park has a stage where they showcase local performers.  My friend’s daughter and her daughter’s boyfriend sang on that stage on a cool Friday night last summer.  It was wonderful.  All the groups that performed were very talented.  Not all of them had the same polish but that was part of the fun.

The stage was simple wood planks.  The Park had set up some flood lights.  Not very attractive to the people on stage but at least the audience could see them.  We brought chairs and blankets to sit on; some had coolers with dinner inside.  There was a small concession stand that sold soda, candy and freshly made popcorn.

The sun set while the performers were on stage.  Three hours later we helped each other pick up the chairs and blankets, sharing favorite moments from the night.  I enjoyed the whole evening.  I could not pick one thing to be the best part.

Some state and county parks provide more than a get away from the concrete jungle.  Google your local state or county park to see what surprises they can offer you.

Pack out what you pack in.

A Bird's Day

 Sing.  Sing.  Sing.  Tweet.  Chatter.  We must sing that light into the sky.  Twitch.  How can others sleep through this?  Churp.  Tweet.  

 Sing.  Sing.  Sing. Bright sky starts a new day.  Hop.  Fly.  A higher branch.  Tweet.  Churp.  Better to see.  Chatter.  Tweet.  Churp.

 Sing.  Sing.  Sing.  Here it comes.  Chatter.  Churp.  Hop.  Here it comes.  Tweet.  Churp.  Sing.  I love this part.  Sing.  Twitch.  Brighter.  Sky getting brighter.  Hop.  Fly.

 Sing.  Sing.  Sing.  The whole flock singing together.  Chatter.  Sing.  Churp.  Tweet.  Bright light in the sky.  Twitch.  The light is full.  Hop.  Fly.  Food.  Fly.  Now I need food.

 Sing.  Sing.  Sing.  Seed pile hanging in the tree.  Hop.  Twitch.  Have to wait.  Ouch.  Chatter.  Tweet.  Seeds in the grass.   Tweet.  Aren’t as good as the ones up there.  Hop.  Twitch.

 Sing.  Sing.  Sing.  Churp.  Chatter.  No.  Hop.  Fly.  There.  Twitch.  A Bush.  Hop.  Fly.  Safe from the yapping furry creature.  Chatter.  Twitch.  Can’t eat now.  Squawk.

 Sing.  Sing.  Sing.  The raised pond is empty.  Twitch.  Fly.  Drink.  Wash.  Churp.  My turn to eat.  Sing.  Seeds are good this morning.  Twitch.  Churp.  They are always good.  Sing.  Tweet.  Chatter.  Sing.

Sing.  Sing.  Sing.  No.  Twitch.  I’m not done eating.  Squawk.  I’m coming.  Hop.  Fly.  Still hungry.  Churp.  The sky is dark.  Tweet.  Wind is strong.  Hop.  Twitch.  Hop.  Tree is safe.  Churp.  Sing.  What’s vibrating?  Twitch.  Tree is falling.  Squawk.  Fly.  Hop.  

Squawk.  Churp.  I can’t hear the others.  Churp.  Tweet.  A bush.  Twitch.  Hop.  Shake off the water.  Churp.  Squawk.  Where did the others go?  Sing.  I can’t hear them.  Squawk.  I’m hungry.  Twitch.  Hop.  Wind is getting colder.  Hop.  Shudder.  Bush blocks the wind.

The sky is still dark.  Twitch.  How long will it be?  Squawk.  Tweet.  Brother.  Churp.  Here.  Sing.  Are you okay?  Churp.  I’m scared too.  Twitch.  The leaves are blowing off.  Churp.  Huddle.  Brother.  Tweet.

Brother.  Tweet.  Chirp.  Wake Up.  Sing.  Come out.  Sing.  Sing.  Sing.  We survived.

Sing.  Sing.  Sing.  We’re alive.  Tweet.  So are the others.  Churp.  Sing.  Sing.  Sing.  The Sky is light again.  Sing.  Sing.  Sing.

Sing.  Sing.  Sing.  Tweet.  Chatter.  We sing to celebrate life.  Churp.  Tweet.  Sing.  Sing.  Sing.  We survived.  Sing.  Sing.  Sing.