For the Birds

In order to see birds it is necessary to become a part of the silence.

Robert Wilson Lynd

seagulls vying for a spot on the top of a lifeguard tower

A mockingbird between songs

Crow trying to out-sing the wind

Morning Coffee

Above me

The mourning dove sings,

the gulls cry out,

the mockingbird proudly

practices drills -

all of them

Unbothered by the disapproving

Clucks and coos of pigeons

Circling on the pavement below .

The herons mind their

Business, not making a sound

Or even acknowledging me

As an egret with a neck so thin

It can barely support his head

Picks his way silently

through the tall grass

And oh- here comes the crow;

my familiar friend

Calling on the wind

reminding me

everywhere i go

I am still home

Night heron watching the water at the marina

Great blue heron on top of the world

a tense green heron fishing

At the edge of the ocean, a crow walked beside me for awhile

A great egret gathering food from the tall grass in the park

Crow flying off a lifeguard tower

The sound of birds stops the noise in my mind.

Carly Simon

Coming from the quiet snowy retreat of my little house in Michigan to bright and noisy Miami Beach was a little bit of a shock to my system. I woke up the entire first week not knowing where I was. But after the initial adjustment, I found my routine here again and more importantly, where to go to be quiet and talk to the birds over morning coffee.

Thank you so much for being here! I will see you soon!

Seagulls watching sunrise

Existence

A building in my neighborhood draws me, 
A simple rectangular structure; 
White façade,  few adornments
Except a small central arc near its roof,
With a single word:
EXISTENCE.
From across the street, I stop and stare-
And wonder.
 
Alone on the block,
First floor windows tightly barred;
It looks empty and dark.
EXISTENCE, 
It reads.
I cross the street; look up and stare-
And wonder.
 
Some days shadows fall over its plain white face,
Clouds gather,
Darkness falls, 
But aside from an occasional “For Rent” sign;
It seems unchanged and unchanging.
“EXISTENCE,”
It says;
And I-
 
I Wonder