Poem for the Solstice

Sunlight before seven and birds begin singing

clear music from a shy thrush deep in the woods

then orderly cadence   a song sparrow's greeting

uproar like a bazaar in orchard and bramble

proud are those song birds with established estates

brave red winged blackbirds riding on hawk's backs

purposeful finches mature in a season

Listen

a quince bush is scratching the window

pollen from pussy willow   daffodil   alder

settles dry and dusty on the skin of her throat

as mallards wedge the lake he moistens her kisses

hands gentle in movement    calloused by fence posts

hard work   molding and smoothing year after year

it's good to plant borage for long honey flow

and people also should sing

©  Dick Russell, 2017

An earlier version was published in Whidbey Island Loon