The Hudson River Diaries

A Compendium of Poetry and Natural History

gleaned from observations in and around Sparkill, New York

Chickadee

 

Last week

While I walked the dog

Down by the river

The world suddenly rolled up my whole life

And fit it into one chirp

Of a chickadee.

 

I hadn't known

That it was so small

And easy to encompass.

 

Had I known that sooner, I might have

Carried it everywhere

Instead of leaving it behind me

As I always do.

 

Originally published in Parabola magazine, Winter 2011

All material copyright 2011 by Lee van Laer. Do not reproduce without permission.