A blue bird sailed

			A shallow arc

			Across our shaded lawn,

			And stopped among

			The swaying twigs

			Of a tiny maple tree



			This brief performance

			Quietly announced the coming

			Of dusk

					and dark,

			And then the stars danced out.

						1973

     In our back yard this morning

     Several small birds

     Are playing in the sycamore

     And strolling in the grass.



     One yellow finch just bent down

     The puff of a dandylion

     And ate the seeds one by one,

     Then he perched

     Upon a fallen branch

     And looked magnificent.



     A blackbird sailed along the creek

     With wings spread and still,

     Coasting down the air

        for a drink.

     No sign of a care.



		May 3, 1974										

	Yellow peach leaves

	  descend

	on dewy grass,

	  as thunder sounds



	And I work,

	  Digging.

                      High on a green branch

                        a cardinal sings,

                          showing

                        a bright red shape,

                        a mobile flower.

		Flying to his nest

			a red-winged blackbird

		Flashes arcs of color

		   Across the morning air.

	In cold spring

	   sunlight,

	White dogwood trees

	   Quicken feelings of winter

	And snow-spangled branches.

            Bright Christmas balls

            On cedar tree branches

	        Recall

            Scenes full of toys

            And cheerful faces.

                          1974

		Tiny stars

		    prance in patterns

		  through the night,

		Trying to sing, yet

			silent,

		Blazing, yet cold.

                        Plump green frogs

                        Float on a still pond

                            at dusk,

                        Returning my gaze.



                     		1974

	In the moist summer night

		  summer night

	  one smells honeysuckle

		and breathes

	more deeply.

                                    Waking,

                                the baby calls me

                                  to her room,

                           and greets my gloom

                            with curls and smiles

                                   and squealing.

		Children celebrate a puppy

			with laughter

		   As we pause on the road.



					10-24-77

       A tiny happiness,

          the bluebird

       I saw that morning.

		1-15-78

                           Letting us see him,

                             the bluebird

                            pauses too briefly.

		                     1-16-78

		The mind’s eye beholds

		   	bright blue

		   moments after the bluebird leaves.

						1977

     Yellow clouds of maple leaves

       glow with sunlight,

         surrounding us.

			10-28-77

	A butterfly wanders

		among glowing oak leaves

	  against the autumn sunset.

				10-24-77

                 Snow falling on bright autumn leaves

                   thrilled memories of round

                             Christmas balls.

			          1968

	Outside the window

		a company of birds perform

	  A winter meal for Linda.	

                Evening sleet sings

                  to frozen leaves

                    Snowy trees, and me.

		          2-1-78