Musing on Sparrow Envy

Sparrow Envy: Field Guide to Birds and Lesser Beasts J. Drew Lanham Hub City Press, 2021 There are at least 94 reasons to fall in love with this 94-page chapbook of poetry and poetic observations by J. Drew Lanham (one of the two black birders at any given birding festival). This singular collection deserves permanent… Continue reading Musing on Sparrow Envy

The First Flowers of Spring!

There was ice on the garden at the beginning of the week. Today, there are snowdrops and crocuses. And honeybees! The bud scales have dropped off the apple trees and the lilacs are beginning to open. I can walk to the mailbox without a coat and I've had the curtains drawn wide all day. I'm… Continue reading The First Flowers of Spring!

National Dandelion Day

The Old Farmer’s Almanac claims that April 5th is Dandelion Day. I’m fairly certain this is not a thing, but it should be. Dandelions are pleasurable in so many ways. Just imagine an early summer lawn dotted with bee-covered smiling suns! And when you need calm, there is nothing better than sitting in the dandelions. In my… Continue reading National Dandelion Day

the green man goes back to bed

he opens his heart to birdsong, feels fizz-prickle of bud fissure — a frisson of eternal expectancy. he hungers for strong summer sun but remains stoic under starlight and spring storm. he yawns limbs unfurled, sends sweet sap down to earth; must pay mycorrhizal newsboys for missed winter tidings — cold comforts for the reluctant… Continue reading the green man goes back to bed

greenleaf moon

crescent moon virginal knowing smile presses down on western mountains leafless limbs filter sky north wind carries ice-airy memory cuts through dusk like dry thorn arcturus awaits the old one’s return whirling earth rounds the sun skin shivers in anticipation waiting for breath from still slumbering green world come south wind with falling rains and… Continue reading greenleaf moon

Lady Day

March 25th is Lady Day. This is another Marian holiday which coopted older pagan traditions — in this case the New Year celebrations which fell on 25 March before Julius Caesar shifted the Roman observance to the beginning of January. Lady Day is nine months before December 25th, so you can probably figure out what… Continue reading Lady Day

Time for the Full Sap Moon!

The fifth moon of my solar year is the Sap Moon. It is new between 24 February and 24 March, full between 10 March and 7 April. This is a period of rapid change. The Sap Moon rarely sees the same weather from year to year. When it’s early in the solar calendar, this month… Continue reading Time for the Full Sap Moon!