A whole flock of tiny finches flew into the crepe myrtle tree where they sat fluffing their feathers and peeping, tiny gray-brown birds with cream underbellies, and a host of peeping and cheeping. Sometimes I wish I knew just what they were saying, as they seemed to be so happy about everything. After a minute or two they took off, swirling around until they were all flying, then making a moving cloud of little birds across the morning sky. I guess they went to someone else's window for awhile, just cheering up the day. Yesterday when I was out I noticed the whole line of old oaks down El Dorado are all making spring green haze, by Friday you will be able to see leaves. The trees think it's spring and I think I believe them over that groundhog. My oak in the back yard, the sawtoothed one, doesn't have green yet and the Mexican one is green all year so it doesn't count for this whole early spring thing.
Oh, a robin! Now there's an harbinger of spring! Just one robin but you know there have to be more. I don't know where our robins spend the winter, after all we are about as far south as you can get in this country, but I just saw the first one I've seen this year. They don't stay here usually, they are only here for less than a month and then they go someplace else. But it's nice to see them, they used to take over the little park spot across the street, spreading out like a brown and russet wave over the early grass, and roosting in the trees there. We get them occasionally in the yard but not as often as I'd like. It's been sprinkling rain off and on, and I'm surprised to see so many birds this morning, but it's fairly warm and there is no wind. There are new white spears of cane among the older stalks, the white will slowly fade into green as they get taller. All these signs of spring, such a mild winter we had this year.
Oh, a robin! Now there's an harbinger of spring! Just one robin but you know there have to be more. I don't know where our robins spend the winter, after all we are about as far south as you can get in this country, but I just saw the first one I've seen this year. They don't stay here usually, they are only here for less than a month and then they go someplace else. But it's nice to see them, they used to take over the little park spot across the street, spreading out like a brown and russet wave over the early grass, and roosting in the trees there. We get them occasionally in the yard but not as often as I'd like. It's been sprinkling rain off and on, and I'm surprised to see so many birds this morning, but it's fairly warm and there is no wind. There are new white spears of cane among the older stalks, the white will slowly fade into green as they get taller. All these signs of spring, such a mild winter we had this year.
Miracle Fair
The commonplace miracle:
that so many common miracles take place.
The usual miracles:
invisible dogs barking
in the dead of night.
One of many miracles:
a small and airy cloud
is able to upstage the massive moon.
Several miracles in one:
an alder is reflected in the water
and is reversed from left to right
and grows from crown to root
and never hits bottom
though the water isn't deep.
A run-of-the-mill miracle:
winds mild to moderate
turning gusty in storms.
A miracle in the first place:
cows will be cows.
Next but not least:
just this cherry orchard
from just this cherry pit.
A miracle minus top hat and tails:
fluttering white doves.
A miracle (what else can you call it):
the sun rose today at three fourteen a.m.
and will set tonight at one past eight.
A miracle that's lost on us:
the hand actually has fewer than six fingers
but still it's got more than four.
A miracle, just take a look around:
the inescapable earth.
An extra miracle, extra and ordinary:
the unthinkable
can be thought.
Wislawa Szymborska
that so many common miracles take place.
The usual miracles:
invisible dogs barking
in the dead of night.
One of many miracles:
a small and airy cloud
is able to upstage the massive moon.
Several miracles in one:
an alder is reflected in the water
and is reversed from left to right
and grows from crown to root
and never hits bottom
though the water isn't deep.
A run-of-the-mill miracle:
winds mild to moderate
turning gusty in storms.
A miracle in the first place:
cows will be cows.
Next but not least:
just this cherry orchard
from just this cherry pit.
A miracle minus top hat and tails:
fluttering white doves.
A miracle (what else can you call it):
the sun rose today at three fourteen a.m.
and will set tonight at one past eight.
A miracle that's lost on us:
the hand actually has fewer than six fingers
but still it's got more than four.
A miracle, just take a look around:
the inescapable earth.
An extra miracle, extra and ordinary:
the unthinkable
can be thought.
Wislawa Szymborska
And what is more a miracle than the first robin, or white cane rising, or a tiny flock of tiny finches, so many miracles in such a morning, gray between storms, the stone heron standing still in the yard, and I am still here, looking out the window. A most welcome miracle! Have a day full of your own miracles!
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