The Balancing Act of Life
Hovering before a feeder full of suet,
the hummingbird’s wings beat so fast,,
she appears motionless. Magic.
Nearby, a birdhouse swivels on its chain
in the autumn breeze, abandoned for
the rapidly approaching winter.
The bees are past “Last Call,” so drunk
they’ll sting anything. They dawdle near
the last bloom of a faded coral rose in
a pointless quest for long-gone nectar.
Geese overheard, perfectly aligned,
their kazoo music a comic horn section.
Yet, behold their strength in numbers,
their impeccable, strategic teamwork.
They know travail; they seek only survival.
The eloquent, full-throated conversation of
lark and sparrow, cuckoo and crow
owl and cricket, long since stifled by
the reality of the season. One misses
their conversation over morning coffee
or evening cabernet. Now we watch the mist
mask and reveal, mask and reveal the Moon,
pee-a-boo in the night sky.
We’ll take in the birdfeeders soon, our fingers
deftly cleaning all crevices before storage for Spring.
We will look for the few creatures of the deep freeze:
Deer, gratefully nibbling apples we left on the
low-hanging branches, rabbits scavenging
what they can, squirrels twirling in the trees.
This balancing act of life serves as show and
as life lesson: Hard work and beauty are equals
in Nature. Symmetry. The dance. The point.
© 2011 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For The Sunday Whirl, with thanks to Brenda for the Wordle: Bees, balance, cleaning, coral, point, strength, finger, motionless, eloquent, rapidly, swivel, safety. Also at my poetic home away from home, Poets United.
Sharp Little Pencil 
Paula
Great wordle, Amy. But I am not looking forward to that deep freeze.
Sharp Little Pencil
Nor am I. I unpacked snow boots and heavy underwear this week, ugh!
islandcat2u
lovely – I see the words took you to the wonders and beauty of nature, too!
Sharp Little Pencil
That seemed to be the only way for me to go, and I’m not usually what you’d call a “peaceful poet.” I’m normally quite opinionated, political, and rowdy! Guess you caught me on a calm day… thanks for stopping, and now I’m on to yours! Amy
pmwanken
Absolutely stunning, Amy. Your words were like IMAX in front of my eyes…bringing back to life the beautiful changing seasons of the North I have missed for eight years, now. Again: absolutely stunning. ~Paula
http://whenwordsescape.wordpress.com/2011/11/13/complex-lessons/
Sharp Little Pencil
Paula, WOW and thank you! People never believe me when I said, many years ago, that I moved Riley and myself back to upstate NY from Puerto Rico “because of the weather.” Truth is, in PR, the folks are great and the beaches are wonderful, but I wanted her to experience crunching in the leaves, making snow angels… you know! Thanks so much, hon. Peace, Amy
booguloo
I enjoy your reading observations. Thanks for sharing.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, Michael! Gonna “boogie” over to your site now… Peace, Amy
timkeen40
The whole thing was awesome. I live in nature and love it. One line did stand out.
Geese overheard, perfectly aligned, their kazoo music a comic horn section.
The reference to the kazoo in comparison to the geese is fantastic, a little subtle detail that brings it all home.
Great writing!
Tim
Sharp Little Pencil
Tim, thanks so much. The fact that you live in nature, much like Sherry Blue Sky, makes this comment all the more appreciated. It was geese flying overhead – I could hear them through my bedroom window – that got me started here. Of course you would also appreciate the musical reference! Peace, Amy
Marianne
This is absolutely lovely, a beautiful tribute to the end of the growing season and all the life that goes dormant during the long, cold winter. Really gorgeous writing!
Sharp Little Pencil
Marianne, thank you for stopping by my blog! I’m so glad you enjoyed the poem… as I gear up for the long winter with my full-spectrum “happy light,” my thermal underwear, and lots and lots of Chapstick! I’ll check yours out now… Peace, Amy
Mike Patrick
Beautifully written, Amy. So few notice the changes in nature.
Sharp Little Pencil
My sister-in-law’s garden served as the setting for this – I simply imagined what it’s like in the late autumn! I’ve not always noticed nature much – such a city girl – but lately, perhaps because of the “frost on my roof,” perhaps because of the ups and downs of my condition, I’ve become more attuned. I appreciate your comment, Mike. Peace (and no stings from the drunken bees), Amy
Debbie
Loved this Amy, as November deepens. 🙂 Your words were a comfort to me.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Debbie. Sometimes words are the balm. Peace, Amy
vivinfrance
This has to be one of my favourites of your poems, Amy. But PLEASE don’t take the bird feeders in – winter is when the birds need us most, just to survive.
Sharp Little Pencil
Oh, no, really? Don’t worry, Viv… this is all from my imagining my sister-in-law’s garden, the second poem to come from that lovely place! I’m sure she knows what to do! You are so sweet to be concerned about this… Peace, Amy
MiskMask
And you made that balancing act seem so easy in this piece. Very nice read. 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
It would probably be easier on all creatures if humans had never developed opposable thumbs, and therefore industry!!! Thanks so much, Marilyn. Amy
Nanka
Great eloquence here Amy!! A complete picture of getting ready for Winter!! I envy the dance of nature you see at this time of the year!!
Sharp Little Pencil
Nanka, thank you. I lived in the tropics for years, and I much prefer the change of seasons, it’s true! But I envy YOU the historic architecture and the amazing food… so there you go! Namaste, Amy
Inside the Mind of Isadora
The last lines –
This balancing act of life serves as show and
as life lesson: Hard work and beauty are equals
in Nature. Symmetry. The dance. The point. –
Are perfect in their descirption of life. This is terrific.
Love it …
Hugs,
Izzy xoxox
Sharp Little Pencil
Izzy, thanks so much for these kind words. It’s all about life – and what we do to help preserve it, right? Hugs, Amer
wordsandthoughtspjs
Amy, this is lovely and does seem to sing off of mine. Though yours is a visual journey full of nature’s wonderful creatures. Beautifully done.
Pamela
Sharp Little Pencil
Funny how we were both on the same psychic page. Nature in all its forms is lovely… and you get yours all year round! Pasa buen dia, Amelita
Lafemmeroar
Aw … absolutely beautiful! I love the last stanza.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much. I loved writing this; it came from a peaceful place… Amy
Lafemmeroar
BTW sharing this on the CCC FB page.
Sharp Little Pencil
Nicest compliment I can get! Thanks, fellow CC! Crrrrrrazy Amy
Renee Espriu
We have no hummingbirds or bees left here, the only birds toughing it out are the crows and the wood pecker that you can’t see but can hear. I love your descriptions of all the life and how some creatures try to hang onto what is left before cold sets in. Wonderfully written.
Sharp Little Pencil
Life finds a way to hang on until the next season. I’m so glad this one pleased, Renee. Amy
Bodhirose
Beautiful work from that wordle, Amy! xo
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, hon – let me see what YOU have cookin’ on your side of the blogosphere, Peace, Amy
Daydreamertoo
Yes, this is what it is like here too. Preparing for the long chill. Not sure what temps you get there but here we go down as low as -30 sometimes, even lower in the windchill. I’m always amazed at how everything survives to re-grow in the spring. But our spring is late here, doesn’t really start until May. But, winter does have it’s own beauty.
This is lovely.
Sharp Little Pencil
Madison… Wisconsin… I wear thermals under my clothes INDOORS. The winds can be bitingly cold, but I do love a powerful snowfall, so guess we are where we are supposed to be! Glad this appealed… and yes, winter is a sight to behold! Amy
Sherry Blue Sky
A wonderful read. I so love this poem, Amy. Guess what? It is snowing here! I am enjoying a Snow Day since I dont have my winter tires on yet. It is beautiful out the windows!
Sharp Little Pencil
Yippee for snow days, Sherry! You deserve at least 28, in my opinion, LOL.
We had our first snow last week – big, fluffy flakes that melted on the ground, as though they had just landed on a child’s warm tongue. Waiting for The Big One, and we all know it will happen eventually! Love, Amy
brian
nice…love all the elements you bring to bear in this…there is a balance in nature…the seasons reflect it…for living there is dying…one act done another begins…
Sharp Little Pencil
I once lived in the tropics and moved back to the States, in part, for the weather. The seasons. And I’m always ready to sing about my favorite season, autumn, all the while knowing the tune will segue into winter… Thanks, Brian! Amy
christine
love the line of kazoo music, enjoyed this journey in nature
Sharp Little Pencil
I really fell in love with the thought of flying kazoos! Thanks for your kind words, Christine… peace, Amy
Lindy Lee
Hard “c” alliteration, well done…
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Lindy. Yes, I employ alliteration often, as well as internal rhyme; very few forms make their way into my writing. Thanks, and peace, Amy
Billy
“Hard work and beauty are equals in nature.” What an excellent insight. One can say beauty and function are intertwined, however messy on the surface.
Here’s a work of mine I’m pretty proud 🙂 — http://pigpenpoetry.com/showthread.php?tid=3126
If you want you can also browse the forum, there’s work from other (more talented) poets I’m sure you’ll enjoy 🙂