in the branches of the White Pine

poetry and prose about place

in the branches of the White Pine

Since finding the bird nests at our lake property last weekend, I have been thinking about the birds we see there in summer. Our cabin looks out on a very bushy, young White Pine where birds love to nest and hide.

: the White Pine is the larger tree to the left of the road

The most frequent denizens of the pine are a pair of Bohemian Waxwings (Bombycilla garrulus). They prefer berries for food and so are in their ideal habitat. Our property must look like a big dinner plate to them, with its orderly presentation of wild strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, hawthorn and winterberry.

Another bird who stops to rest in the pine is the American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis), also known as the Thistle bird. These are seed-eating birds who fly across the fields in a distinctive pattern of loops. They are also one of the most common birds at our winter bird feeder.

building homes

we fly kites

to learn the field and sky

set copper whirligigs to spin

yellow flirt crosses blue

per-chick-or-ree

potato-chip potato-chip potato-chip

we build our cabin

with 2 by 4s, boards and trusses

woodscrews and spiral nails

firm framework

woven grass and birch

bark rim and spider silk

you fill walls with fiberglass

I quilt curtains for windows

goldfinch waits while his female tucks

her nest with thistledown

tufts of cattail, puffs of dandelion

Written by jane tims

December 7, 2011 at 6:01 pm

Posted in above the ground, shelter, wild life

Tagged with art, Bohemian Waxwing, Goldfinch, nature, pencil drawing, poetry, white pine

6 Responses

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I like how you incorporated the Goldfinch’s call into your poem. Well-done!

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Watching Seasons

December 10, 2011 at 1:04 am

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- Hi Tracy. Thanks! Bird calls are fun to ‘transcribe’ into words. Jane
  
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  jane tims
  
  December 10, 2011 at 8:53 am
  
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Jane~ I love the imagery, I’m big on that, BUT When I read it out loud I loved it more! Nice cadence!

Brant

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sunontiepost

December 8, 2011 at 4:44 pm

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- Hi Brant. Thanks! I think poetry is meant to be read aloud. I belong to a writing group where we focus on listening to the written work. Jane
  
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  jane tims
  
  December 9, 2011 at 6:46 am
  
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Hi Jane. Excellent post. Your drawing is well done … also liked the poem … how you switch it up back and forth.
-Denis

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JD

December 8, 2011 at 11:36 am

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- Hi. The goldfinch was fun to draw. I haven’t done many birds and I will try more. Jane
  
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  jane tims
  
  December 9, 2011 at 6:43 am
  
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