HUMMINGBIRD
Autumn days darken early. Time orbits away from the sun.
Leaves change, colorful fallen rainbow tears, then not one.
Settle leafy skeletons, crisp unwrapped mummies in a pile.
Nature blankets winter chills, expecting spring’s new style.
Hummingbird’s needlelike beaks probing remnant flowers.
A long-ago Christmas week, untimely hospice urgent visits.
Held her hand. Wanted to stop time. Emotions, edgy fidgets.
The view, a hummingbird feeder hung—watery ornament.
Watching hummingbirds entertain—Christmas day event.
Hummingbird wings flutter, rapid ghostlike super powers.
Women at the front desk talked about the feeder as I left a hospice visit.
I oohed and aahed, telling them the hummingbird surprise was exquisite.
When I see a hummingbird, emotions touch December. Now time’s passage,
I have a knowing smile. I receive a mysterious, happy hummingbird message.
Hummingbird feeder outside my window…. I will watch for hours.
April Ryan is a Washington resident and frequent contributor to Sharing Stories and Poetry Corner.
SHARING STORIES is a weekly column for and about the 50 plus crowd living in the Puget Sound region. Send your stories and photos to ariele@comcast.net. Tell local or personal stories; discuss concerns around aging and other issues; share solutions, good luck, and reasons to celebrate; poems are fine too. Pieces may be edited or excerpted. We reserve the right to select among pieces. Photos are always a plus and a one-sentence bio is requested (where you live, maybe age or career, retired status, etc.).
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