Frequent Visitor

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The robins were singing vespers in the high tree-tops, filling the golden air with their jubilant voices. ~L. M. Montgomery, Canadian author, Anne of the Island, 1915

An inquisitive
Bird sitting in a tree
Can sometimes seem
Dreamily calm
Even as it’s obviously
Fraught with tension
Giving an observer
Half a chance to wonder
If it is even thinking at all.
Just so, the bird and I are
Kindred spirits
Loving the outdoors
Making music at will
Noticing whatever moves
Oh, how wonderful it must be
Perhaps for a day or more
Quietly flitting from tree to tree
Round about the yard
Settling high in the branches
Taking notice and being noticed
Under the bright sunshine
Volume turned up
With eyes wide open
X-ray vision
You can’t help but admire
Zealous living.

Note: Poetry form is A-B-C Poem.

31 thoughts on “Frequent Visitor”

  2. Debbie, you are soooooooooooooo gifted with words! I always enjoy your poems and the various forms.

    “Kindred spirits
    Loving the outdoors
    Making music at will
    Noticing whatever moves”

    LOVED that!

    Do you know my favorite bird breed? A raven/crow. They are so intelligent and oh-so beautiful. I’m utterly fascinated with them.

    Have a wonderful week, my friend!

    X to you and the Monk

    • Thanks for your too-kind words, Ron. I think you’ve said before that you love ravens and crows. I like owls. Deep in the night, their soulful hoots kind of give me the shivers, but I know they’re just talking to each other!

      Today promises to be the last warm day for us for a while, so I plan on enjoying it. Later this week, we’re expecting freezing rain and more cold. I suppose we need to realize it’s still winter, huh? XX

  5. This is the first time I’ve come across one of these alphabetic poems that seemed poetic to me. It’s really quite lovely, and it doesn’t hurt at all that you offered up a contemplation of one of my favorite birds. If I could add just one bird to our landscape, the robin would be it — but, alas. They only visit from time to time. I’ll have to depend on you to watch them for me, and remind me of how pleasant their presence — and their zealous living — can be.

    • Linda, I’m glad this one hit the mark! I rather enjoy setting myself up for challenges with poetry forms. It’s kind of like calisthenics, you know? I’m humbled at your compliment that it felt like a real poem to you.

      It seems that Robins overwinter here quite often. I don’t always see them, but it’s a treat when I do. I expect the amount of rain/snow we’ve had has made our soil a better “hunting ground” for the worms Robins like. At any rate, the ones who do migrate have probably already left. How nice it will be when they return!

  6. I love this poem, Debbie, especially your noticing that you and the robin share a love of being outside AND the love of making music. What could be sweeter? Now if only you could fly from tree to tree in the sunshine together!

    • Barbara, how did you know I’ve always wanted to fly?!? Even as a kid. And not fly in a plane, but with my own arms as wings. Silly, I suppose, but flitting from tree to tree in the sunshine sounds perfectly grand!

  7. Love this poem, Debbie and yes! Wouldn’t it be fun to join the birds for a day to see what all they experience?! As I stepped out for my walk this morning there was a raucous discussion taking place between a crow and a blue jay. If I were a bird, I would have stayed out of that argument!

    • LOL! Yes, I don’t think I’d want to join in the crow/blue jay banter! There’s something soothing about the coos of a morning dove, though, and I’ve always enjoyed the sparrows and wrens. Of course, the brilliant cardinal just might be my favorite, though I haven’t seen too many of them lately.

      • I love Cardinals and we’re blessed to have them year round in number. Females can be quite assertive (mean!) on the feeders.
        I think we’ve discussed this before, but you really need to get the MerlinID app for your phone. Even when I don’t see them, I love hearing (and identifying) the wide variety of birds out there singing!

    • I’d only want to be a bird for a day or two, at most. Too many critters are out to snag a poor birdie (Monk included), and I wouldn’t want to be anybody’s dinner!

    • Thanks, John. I think you might be right. They’re predicting below normal weather here for the next week or so. Yesterday was beautifully Springlike, but a cold front overnight has put things back into perspective. Robin might want to migrate while the migrating is good!

    • Thanks, TD, and what an interesting question you pose. I think I’d like to be a Cardinal. Their brilliant red really stands out, and nobody doesn’t like to see them (after all, they’re believed to bring messages from the other side, messages of hope!). How about you? Do you have a favorite bird?

      • Cool! My second choice would be a male cardinal too!! You are correct everyone enjoys seeing and hearing the cardinals. They are such family oriented birds. I love them. I can’t carry a tune, not even in the shower. They bring messages from the other side? I didn’t know that important thing about cardinals.

        My first choice (although not my favorite bird) would be a laughing gull. I would enjoyed all the tourists throwing me bread and snacks while I laugh with them. And I would have fun stealing the steaks and chickens off the barbecue pits of the locals. To fly would be lots of fun!

        My favorite bird is the ruby-throated hummingbird. They are bringing me much joy this season.

        Yorkie tried to fly off the front porch the first year we lived in this house. She landed flat on her face and never tried again. She would make a nice little inside canary.

        Now, Monk? I’m not sure. He is so curious and majestic. I think he would make a good eagle, flying high and eying everything.

        • Poor Yorkie. She probably was shocked and embarrassed by her first attempt at flight. No wonder she didn’t relish a repeat performance.

          I see the Monk has you fooled! He’s far from majestic. In fact, he’s so comical that most days, he makes me laugh out loud.

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