A passing
shower brings A prelude to spring. It dimples and
pocks the lake Creating self-healing
divots Craters and canyons Painting and
sculpting and painting again The grey
liquid canvas. Watch closely
or you might miss it as The eye
jitterbugs from near shore to far Wanting to
register Each drop as
it strikes A visual cacophony
of Low rollers circling
and radiating Brothers and
sisters Born from
above No two seem alike (Though there
is A strong
family resemblance).
A sudden burst
bring more and more Radiating circumferences Shoulder by
shoulder Crossing and
blending these Fluid Venn diagrams, Now being studied
by mallard mathematicians Paddling across
the pond Wondering if
dinner is included with this show?
Soon, a drier wind sweeps The grey palette
clean Shape-shifting
the water, With a pause
and a stillness, An ephemeral
epilogue Waiting for
the rain to return Once again.
You might picture it in
the window of this photograph, Possibly with a Peterson’s Field Guide placed usefully
on the Resolute Desk. I won’t labor the
President with any lectures on ornithology Or science or adaptations
and the like, Since he wouldn’t likely
listen to me. I’ll only ask him to keep
the feeder filled With a nice mix of
sunflower seeds and millet. The chickadees and titmice
will be appreciative I’m sure. Maybe the President will
watch them and marvel At their enterprising
natures, Their common beauty, And their valiant struggle
for survival? They will only take a few minutes
of his time each day But they will surely show
him things he did not know, He did not know, Like steadfastness, diversity,
playfulness, and simple joie de vivre. David Thoreau
said, "I once had a sparrow alight upon my
shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by
that circumstance that I should have been by any
epaulet I could have worn." Maybe the
sparrows will teach The Commander-in-Chief About peaceful
co-existence? And tolerance? And modesty? William
Wordsworth is oft quoted, "Come forth into the light of
things, let nature be your teacher."