Remembering Ruby

There is a beauty

in death as well as in life,

teach the camellias

~dkm 35/52 

Rogue Hyacinth

What's that purple spot

In leaves under daffodils?

Have a closer look

Perhaps a squirrel 

buried it for safekeeping

It sprouted and grew

Distinctive fragrance

Fortunate color combo

Liliaceous

Wayward hyacinth

May you divide and prosper

for future bouquets

~dkm 34/52

Pine Siskin Irruption Year Hazard

Perched at my window

Outside looking in. A pair

of fluffy fledglings?

No, it's too early

for newbies to be out, plus 

Siskins don't nest here

These two don't fly off

Even as camera moves close

More sleepy than scared

Research is needed

I consult good Dr. Zinn

It's salmonella!

Poisoned by feces

Outbreak among pine siskins

From west coast to east

Feeders must come down

Decks must be disinfected

Until siskins leave

Mystery solved but

such unhappy solution

for all of Georgia

~dkm  33/52

Oh Camellias Japonica Trio

How every spring you

bring me to revere anew

your petal and hue

Veiny rose of Jack's,

    Pale flesh of Hagoromo,

    and Pink Perfection

Your ardent frailty

Your breathless gentility

Your humility

~dkm 32/52

Spring in the Time of Covid

Fresh warm breaths of spring

Rattling magnolia leaves

Exhilarating

~dkm 31/52

Winter Song

Throng of pine siskin

Army of red-winged blackbird

Here for the winter

All day every day

Fighting each other for seed

Not stopping for rain

Neither could be called

Lyrical songsters, more like

Dissonant janglers

Eating their way through

twenty pounds of seed per week,

two bags of dried worms

I wonder what our

year-round residents suppose,

or if they notice 

~dkm 30/52 

 

Mushroom Auricularia

Mister Wood Ear Man

Found in grass, moved to pavement

to see more clearly

Reading up, I learn

that auricularia 

sometimes called wood ear 

is often cooked in

Chinese hot and sour soup

I may have had it

Mister Wood Ear Man

Truly? Your head and guts are

delicious to eat?

~dkm 29/52

Hope

This morning I heard

the first spring mating call of

a single bluebird

He perched on the chair

Soon enough to the feeder

came the azure pair

~dkm 28/52

 

Redwinged Flight or Fight or Mating Display

When at rest, he hints

via yellow epaulet

at some deeper truth

 

Only with wings spread

Does the blackbird reveal his

shocking red secret

~dkm 27/52

Red Yellow Blue

Three birds come to feed

Card'nal, pine warbler, bluebird

Primary triad

~dkm 26/52