January 30: After the opera

Saw my first opera this afternoon, a "Live at the Met" presentation of Puccini's "Turandot," which was quite a dramatic spectacle set in an imaginary Chinese court. Not to be outdone, the sunset tonight was also spectacular.

After "Turandot"
drama of hot pink sunset.
I stop, watch it fade.

January 29: Shopping

In the grocery store

overwhelmed by the many

flavors of popcorn.

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January 28: Talk

I observe with envy
the gathering of crows,
their conversations.

January 27: Passing

Dooryard full of cars--

yesterday a man died here.

I pass by slowly.

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January 26: Thaw

Revealed by the thaw--

bright orange orbs of

tangerines the deer passed up.

 

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January 25: Dip

In British birder slang, to twitch a bird you're looking for is to successfully see it. When you miss it, that's a dip. We had some dips in our birding day with friends today, but then, the birds we did see--Mew Gull, Black-headed Gull, Redhead--make it all worthwhile. Actually, just spending a sunny day on the coast of Maine with good friends is what makes it all worthwhile. The birds are the bonus.

 

So this is birding:

staring at a bush for hours

not seeing a bird.

 

Mew Gull in Owls Head Harbor

 

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January 24: Alive

Still here to enjoy

dawn, watching the big moon set

from the toilet seat.

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January 23: In memory

Your yard a rose garden

attracting rare birds

just as you drew in friends.

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January 22: Conversations with Trees

Tonight I participated in a poetry reading at the Curtis Public Library in Brunswick with five other poets and Leonard Meiselman, an artist who had filled the room with his paintings and sketches of trees. We each read pieces (written by ourselves and others) that related to trees. The diversity of voices amid the dynamic energy of the art made for an interesting program in which I was honored to take part.

My husband Paul composed this haiku in honor of our friend Gary Lawless, one of the other participating poets, who had coordinated the evening:

At tonight's reading

every man wore a grey beard--

a room full of Ents.

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January 21: Moonrise

moon slowly rises

eavesdropping at the bar

while I sip my cocktail

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January 20: Celestial

Five planets at dawn

remind us of the old gods,

forgotten rituals.

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