Birdwatching

[RiverNotch]

Birdwatching


Beauty is

big, expressive eyes,
a smile wider than rivers,
words that contain the universe --

the purple scarf of an olive-backed sunbird,
the horned shadow of the old scops owl,
the coot coot coot of a colasisi --

me in the morning, searching for you
with binoculars and my mind's eye,
followed by your reply: a mocking

smile.

Birdwatching

Beauty is
big, expressive eyes,
a smile wider than rivers,
words that contain the universe --

Beauty is
the purple scarf of an olive-backed sunbird,
the elusive shadow of the old scops owl,
the luminous song of a colasisi --

Beauty is
me in the morning, searching for you
with binoculars and my mind's eye,
followed by your reply: a mocking

smile.