I feel free from you
I feel I can let you take care of me
And I'm free

I feel free
From you

I remember your thrill at seeing a hummingbird
You point whisper shout:
"Look! A hummingbird!"
(Like Suzanne's moon in William Carlos Williams' poem)
Later, I would see a hummingbird, and think
"Look! A hummingbird! Mom loves hummingbirds!"

Today, you told me of the lost baby robin
You put in a shoebox for comfort
And set in a tree
So he could find his wings--
Then you saw him on the branch
Thinking of air
Considering his body…

And the baby sparrow
On the lamb's ear
Whose parents, hovering nearby,
You didn't see at first

And the glorious blue heron
Who came down for a look
As you and Dad
Enjoyed the trees
In the backyard…

(yesterday was a good day for bird signs!)

And I realized…
I had been hearing the birds
Recently
Too!

The statuesque penguin-colored bird
With the red eyes
And the bird-shaped black mark
Watching me sit on the dock
Sometimes
The other tall bird
(I don't remember her feathers)
With green eyes
Would join us…

The brown bird, perched,
With the huge wings
Demonstrating their breadth…

The black doves
Flying
The black dove
calling calling calling…

Thank you!
I love you!

Thank you, Mom, for sharing the birds