Wind gusts, pine cymbals swoosh,
Cottonwood rattles patter.
Strident Jay warnings and caustic Crow cries—
Cadences piercing the air—
Accent the drumming of Hairy, Downy, and that
Wild Red-headed guy,
Undergirded by the cosmic rhythms of
Constellations, Sun, and Moon.
Kinglets whistle, Song Sparrows warble,
Crickets chant their drone,
Carolina Wrens pipe counter melody to
Cheeping chipmunks’ beat.
Towhees and Chickadees flute their names,
Clarion Flickers cry,
Backed by the whisper of raptors’ wings
Slicing through the sky.
Sacred silence underpins
Creation’s raucous harmonies:
Muted celli suffuse the ether,
Soundless violas sing,
Hushed bass fiddles undergird,
Voiceless violins swell.
Sweet harmonies for those who listen,
Healing songs for those who hear.
~ Kathryn Kircher, October 2024, poet and photographer
How to Stand
Did you know there is a proper way to stand? My physical therapist taught me "how to stand" at my last appointment. I laughed to think I needed to be taught how to stand at my age! One foot slightly ahead of the other, equal balance between my two legs, knees unlocked...
