Blackbird Orchard

winter orchard full
of resting blackbirds

clouds of them floating
above the treetops

feathery fruit

warming bare branches
stirring slow sap with
fluttering fast-beating

life

Animal Eyes

The frozen January field was a confused checkerboard
Of dirt clods and patches of grass when the ground
Suddenly rose
From the frost to take flight

Geese resting invisible

I knew this 
Smiling with the delight of the utterly
Unexpected 

When four more shapes separated
From the earth 
To meet the air beating wildly
And I was taken by surprise
All over again

I breathed deep
Blinking and
Trying to reason with my animal eyes

So this is where magic comes from
They said

This moment of illogic when I
Feel new and fresh and young to the world
Like a brittle boned fawn
Wide eyed and shaky legged and shockingly
Shockingly

Alive.