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.

Birds

When I was a kid, my dad attached a small piece of plywood outside the window of our dining room.  It was a very simple bird feeder.  To put more bird seed out all we had to do was open the window.  It also made it very easy to bird watch.

Little chickadees and sparrows came, so did the Blue Jays.  Robins would sometimes stop by.  The babies would fly away if they saw us moving inside the house but the older birds knew we were not going to hurt them so they often stayed, although on the side opposite the house.

During the summer Mom would hang a hummingbird feeder on the living room window.  That was fascinating.  Again, the babies usually flew away if they saw movement inside, but by the end of the summer we could sit quietly on the sofa under the window and watch them.

Okay, I don't have any pictures of birds.  This is where they like to hang out.

Birds are amazing.  They have to eat a lot to keep up their energy.  That’s why the feeders are so important.

They don’t have to be fancy.  A piece of plywood outside a window works for some birds.  Some birds like to eat from the hanging feeder.  Others like to eat off the ground.  If you want to set up a feeder outside your window, it’s good to know what the birds in your area like to eat and how.  Go to your library and check out some books on birds in your area.  Feel free to use the sources at the end of this blog. 

The place I live now has a tree outside my living room window which is full of birds during the summer.  I love listening to their chatter when the sun rises and sets every day.

Bird watching is an easy way to admire nature, but it does require patience.  You will hear a bird long before you see one (for more than a second).

Pack out what you pack in.

 

Wildlife

Wildlife is the best part of hiking.  I usually don’t see many animals.  I hear them scurry away.  I see leaves rustle as they do.  Squirrels, chipmunks, and rabbits are not scary to come across on the trail.  I often slow down to see how close they let me get.  Usually not very.

I’ve never been a big fan of dogs so I keep my distance from them.  When I see the dog’s owner then I relax, a bit.  Not all dog owners take the time to train their dogs to obey simple commands like come.

Birds on the other hand like the safety of the trees so with a pair of binoculars you can get a good look.  That is without sitting around for hours on end, like you have to do with deer.

Although I’ve noticed more deer in the city, when I come across wildlife in the city it’s a little different.  Some of the animals are not afraid of humans, or at least not as concerned.  One of the rabbits that live under the scrubs outside my patio window sat on the patio while I lay on the floor in my living room, with the window open.  We were no more than five feet apart.  The rabbit enjoying the coolness of the cement at the end of a hot summer day; me just enjoying the wildlife right outside my home.  When I got up so did the rabbit but it sure was a cool 10 minutes.

There’s a commercial out now telling people to go outside and enjoy the time away from technology.  You don’t have to go very far.

Pack out what you pack in.

The Genesis of Butterflies

The Genesis of Butterflies
Victor Hugo
1802-1885

The dawn is smiling on the dew that covers

The tearful roses; lo, the little lovers
That kiss the buds, and all the flutterings
In jasmine bloom, and privet, of white wings,
That go and come, and fly, and peep and hide,
With muffled music, murmured far and wide.
Ah, the Spring time, when we think of all the lays
That dreamy lovers send to dreamy mays,
Of the found hearts within a billet bound,
Of all the soft silk paper that pens wound,
The messages of love that mortals write
Filled with intoxication of delight,
Written in April and before the May time
Shredded and flown, playthings for the wind’s playtime,
We dream that all white butterflies above,
Who seek through clouds or waters souls to love,
And leave their lady mistress in despair,
To flit to flowers, as kinder and more fair,
Are but torn love-letters, that through the skies
Flutter, and float, and change to butterflies.

 
Translated by Andrew Lang

From:  The Gardener’s Book of Poems and Poesies.  Compiled by Cary O. Yager.  ©1996 by Contemporary Books, Inc. Two Prudential Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60601-6790.