A Bird, came down the Walk – (359)

BY EMILY DICKINSON

A Bird, came down the Walk –
He did not know I saw –
He bit an Angle Worm in halves
And ate the fellow, raw,

And then, he drank a Dew
From a convenient Grass –
And then hopped sidewise to the Wall
To let a Beetle pass –

He glanced with rapid eyes,
That hurried all abroad –
They looked like frightened Beads, I thought,
He stirred his Velvet Head. –

Like one in danger, Cautious,
I offered him a Crumb,
And he unrolled his feathers,
And rowed him softer Home –

Than Oars divide the Ocean,
Too silver for a seam,
Or Butterflies, off Banks of Noon,
Leap, plashless as they swim.

***

I’ve been hanging out in the garden far too much, not able to brave the heat for more adventurous excursions. But I shouldn’t complain, given the number of visitors happily parading in front of the camera, as long as the plants provide sustenance or I bring out the bird seeds….

Quite a few youngsters,

and one of the butterflies makes my heart beat faster, since he comes every day, a relentless survivor given that someone ate half of his wings.

Squirrels now letting me come so close I could practically give them a manicure, or is that a pedicure?

Bees, in contrast to last year, are leaving me alone, too busy in the lavender.

An occasional newt

Summer. An oasis. Not even a slug to fight with. I feel blessed.

Then again there is always a mouse that needs transport far away from my basement….lest it comes back the next day.

Music matches the mood – maybe Mother Goose comes down the walk next. In the meantime, the chickadees get fed.