male junco
In the darkest day I looked for light. Shadows needed to be brightened
with divine announcements - to be redeemed in the filth and the hollows -
a chink of sunrise when starvation there
and fear here set the stone table.
Then a bird, fleeing the sparrow hawk,
flew against the window with his body, and fell, dazed.
He was invited in to perch in the eternal tree where an electric candle
on the bough's tip is a star in the tar of night.
Oh sweet birdie, warm up, calm yourself, catch your wits
in the Life of the star, the very one that bridges night to day.
Be revived, reborn, released - and fly away.
Listen to a podcast of this poem here.
Happy Solstice ◊ Merry Christmas ◊ Happy New year
To all of you, my dear friends -
be free, into a new day.
This writing began in inspiration from Elizabeth Jennings' poem The Annunciation, which I read in a small volume of Christmas Poems edited by John Hollander and J.D. McClatchy - which I won in a drawing at beautiful Pamela's blog From the House of Edward. Then, mid-sentence, the advent of this visitor.
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Oh, I hope he survived! They so often don't. How kind of you to bring him inside for warmth and rejuvenation...and how kind of you to bless us with this lovely poem.
ReplyDeleteDearest Ruthie, I hope you have the happiest of holidays!
Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteFor real? What a sweet picture.
ReplyDeleteNow we enter the hours of magic. Bird knows this.
ReplyDeletewhat a sweet birdie. have a fabulous christmas!
ReplyDeleteVery nice - words and picture!
ReplyDeleteSuch a sweet photo and poem.
ReplyDeleteMerry Solstice to you Ruth:)
oo ruth....how did you get that photo??? stunning and so beautiful!! happy winter to you and yours....
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and yours Ruthie, that's the sweetest story. Your picture is just magical.I can almost touch the pine needle. I hope the birdy left healthy.
ReplyDeleteSweet, miraculous and yet simple. Some of the best presents are from Mother Nature.
ReplyDeleteLovely, Ruth. Just lovely!
Happy solstice. We welcome back the sun.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great photo Ruth,i feel like I could reach out and touch it. Winter solstice now the day's grow longer,a minute a day,i believe?
ReplyDelete"A star in the tar of night..." Glad you were there to rescue that bird, and to write this poem. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHappy solstice, happy Christmas, happy winter!
WoW!!! Such a perfect moment....
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the win, Rut, you lucky thing!!
...the colors in the photograph are so gorgeous... it is just perfect... You surely have a magic touch...
a Most Merry Christmas season to you!!
Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYou have a thing with birds, Ruth! First the bluebird and now this.... It does give me pause! How beautiful.
ReplyDeleteStunning!
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays to you, my dear friend.
xo
What a marvelous bird!
ReplyDeleteSeason's greetings
and all best wishes
Dear Susie, he seemed ok when he flew away! We really thought he might be dying.
ReplyDeleteThank you, sweet Claudia. Thinking of you away from your parents this year.
ReplyDeleteYes, Shari, for real. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteComing from you, Loring, the word magic has stayed with me for two days. I've been researching the yule log, looking for magic.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kamana! He was so still and lethargic, which made it easy to photograph him. Sad!
ReplyDeleteThank you, and Merry Christmas, Delphyne to you and your loved ones.
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful, Ruth. The winter solstice is an important day for us. My grandson was born on Dec.21, in the midst of a family crisis. I've always thought it was fitting for him to arrive on such a hopeful day, a day that symbolizes rebirth.
ReplyDeleteHappy holidays to you and your family.
Bella
Thank you, sweet Anet. Love to your family.
ReplyDeleteThank you, blue jean, blue is my favorite winter color.
ReplyDeleteOh hello, Dee Dee. I love you. Yes, he seemed healthy when he left. He would have enjoyed a foot massage I think. I hope all the chilluns have a wonderful time with you this Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThank you, MamaZen. He was sweet, and scary quiet and still.
ReplyDeleteI agree, CottageGirl. We couldn't create anything like this. It just happened. Thankfully.
ReplyDeleteEllen, imagine how it used to be. People didn't know if they would survive winter.
ReplyDeleteI love your site!! Been following for awhile~~
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas from Colorado!
Incredible photo, startling poem.
ReplyDeleteMy family can tell you how much I look forward to longer days. Enjoy your holidays, dear Ruth!
Cathy, he was so soft.
ReplyDeleteJust a minute a day? It always seems to go so fast.
Beautiful work, as always, Ruth. Did the birdie make it?
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
In case I don't get by here tomorrow, and of course, it is highly unlikely, it being Christmas day and all. I wanted to wish you the happiest, the merriest, the laughingest Christmas you've ever enjoyed. Merry Christmas, my friend.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh... I didn't mean rut, ... big difference in the meaning of rut and Ruth... absolutely opposite really....... sorry my dear!!
ReplyDeleteHappy me to have you as a friend, dear DS!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the beautiful poem, Ruth. My heartfelt wishes to you and yours for a blessed Christmas and the warmest family time together.
ReplyDeleteHello Gwen, my dear friend. I knew you didn't mean to say "Rut" - but I have used that in email addresses in the past, so it is a perfectly acceptable version of my name. :)
ReplyDeleteGood, deep, beautiful, happy moments to you, John, Max and the animals.
Lovely. I do so hope he made it!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Ruth!
Bless you, Babs!
ReplyDeleteBoots, what's up with that?! Who am I to question why? I love it, you know.
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear Christina. Much love.
ReplyDeleteHello, Elizabeth, and happy Christmas to you and your loved ones. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThe writing is beautiful darling Ruth.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas.
Love Renee xoxo
Sweet Bella, somehow, I know that your grandson holds something special for you this year. Just a feeling, and a knowing. A little bird told me.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jet, Happy Christmas to you and your wallpapers.
ReplyDeleteWell thank you and hello, TWKAOF, how nice.
ReplyDeleteoh the bird is not afraid of you Ruth, perhaps wants to spend Christmas with you.
ReplyDeleteVery sharp and lovely picture
Merry Christmas to you Don Lesley Brian, Peter, Bishop and the sparrow
Merry, merry Christmas, my dear Dutchbaby. Let the light come. Well, it will come whether we let it or not!
ReplyDeleteYes, sweet California Girl, he flew away. We were so relieved.
ReplyDeleteHappy happy Christmas to you and your loved ones.
Oh thank you, Relyn. We already had a merry Christmas Eve, so much fun, even if it did mean Don had to go to the store for buttermilk for a special recipe today.
ReplyDeleteHe did, he did, dear Jeanie! Hope he survives another day of stormy weather today. Happy Christmas to you and Rick!
ReplyDeleteThank you, lovely Renee. Happy Christmas to you and your husband and beautiful family.
ReplyDeleteDear rauf, he was so still, and I think he was too stunned to be afraid. Thank you, and Happy Christmas to you, Rokhia, Rameeza, Haseena, Moin Ruby and your BIL. Please give PPP a little pat too.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully done.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas.
Merry Christmas dear Ruth.
ReplyDeleteLove Renee xoxo
I hope you had a great Christmas Ruth ♥
ReplyDeleteGlad to read down and discover he made it!
ReplyDeleteI think that I I totally failed to tell you that the picture of the bird is absolutely splendid. Best yet!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Montag.
ReplyDeleteLove to you, dear Renee.
ReplyDelete♥ Kathy, I hope you have a terrific 2010.
ReplyDeletePoor thing, Jeanie, he was so quiet. I thought he was dying.
ReplyDeleteOh thank you, CottageGirl, thank you for coming back to tell me. It's sad that the only way I can get a good bird photo is when they hit the window. :|
ReplyDeleteHow thoughtful... to place the little guy in your tree to revive.
ReplyDeleteWhat an experience , really, and the photo is exquisite.
We are getting juncos here finally, after almost 15 years in the subdivision. I'd never really heard of them before. Isn't life odd and wonderful.
speaking of which.. it was a bit jarring and bittersweet to see Renee's comment and avatar above. She spread such joy.
Deb, juncos are really quite beautiful birds, and sweet.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's sad to see and miss Renee here. Her capacity for love was astonishing. Still, it goes on, I think.