Gallery: March Musings – Bird by Bird

Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he’d had three months to write. It was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother’s shoulder, and said, ‘Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird. – Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird

            One of my favorite writing teachers is Anne Lamott.  I do not feel judged when I read Anne Lamott. I feel like writing is within reach.  This March, I’ve decided to take the SOLC sponsored by Two Writing Teachers, and in doing so, I have decided to take it bird by bird – literally.  I will write or draw each day about birds. 

            I have been working on a lot of academic, school-type writing, and I want set aside March for exploration and play. I’m not trying to teach anything; I’m just pondering, playing, and considering the life of birds.  I have always admired birds – both their seeming fragility and their great strength.

March 31

March 30

March 29

March 28

March 27

March 26

Sunset Fishing

The gulls hover 
Over Seal Harbor
Surveying the boats,
Looking down into the water.
A blue heron steps gracefully 
Among the seaweed covered rocks
His agile neck curves and darts
Piercing the water’s surface,
Ready for a fish dinner.
The seagulls circle and squawk
In the evening air
Salty and cool
Sweet sunset fishing.

March 25

March 24

March 23

March 22

March 21

March 20

March 19

March 18

March 17

March 16

March 15

March 14

March 13

March 12

March 11

March 10

March 9

Freedom

I draw open the heavy drapes 
In my bedroom,
Look out in the early morning
Past the shrubbery and thorny bushes.

There he stands,
A dark-headed sentinel
Staring with black beady eyes,
Quiet and still.

His webbed feet 
Provide sturdy balance.
He looks in my direction
And meets my gaze.

He rustles his sleek feathers,
Moves towards the adjacent patio
To stare intently through the
Sliding door windows.

There the neighbor’s
Orange tabby cat,
Stretches, sunning himself
On the worn blue ottoman.

The goose unmoving watches.
The cat stands, circles,
And shape-shifts -
While his tail twitches.

This interests the goose
And he steps closer to the window.
What creature is this?
What predator behind glass?

The cat pretends not to notice
And turns his back.
The goose returns to his place
Under the cool pine tree.

He stands proud  
lifting his wild wings slightly
Catching the wind
Knowing he is free.

March 8

March 7

March 6

March 5

March 4

March 3

March 2

March Morning

Bare Branches
Fringe the sullen sky
Haunting and motionless

Even the birds are too cold
To venture out 
This March morning

Tufts of grass still green
Poke through a thin layer
Of fresh fallen snow

Golden oak leaves
Lie frozen in a garden puddle
Suspended till spring

The Slate-gray stones 
Which border the garden
Are stamped with lichen

Gray, white, pale green
Like alien snowflakes
Each one different

The earth rests patiently
Settling in under compost,
Mulch, burlap blankets

Though in my mind
I can hear the distant
Buzz of spring

March 1

Thank you to the Slice of Life March Challenge for giving me the idea of writing step-by-step, bird-by-bird. When you write, anything is possible.

33 thoughts on “Gallery: March Musings – Bird by Bird”

  12. How funny! (I loved today’s poem) I am writing picture book drafts and many entries have been about birds. I love birds, too. I also love watching them. I like the concept of “bird by bird,” for March’s Slice of Life, too.

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  13. I have read Bird by Bird, but now I am thinking I need a reread! Your poems are exquisite. I like today’s poem because of the hope that spring brings to us along with the birdsong.

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  19. Oh, Joanne, that is wonderful. Those wings: “her origami wings folded / to precise perfection” Wow! And all the way to that “single shining fish” is just beautiful.

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  20. Love the alliteration and the onomatopoeia in today’s poem., We’ve had a bunch of robins living in our crabapple tree. Today they tiptoed through snow hindi g food. I should write a poem.

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  21. I’m enjoying your bird by bird gallery this month, Joanne. I love murmurations of blackbirds–so fascinating to watch. I love your descriptions: “shape-shifting cloud,” and this alliteration is magical: “behold the beautiful, / Bewildering blackbird dance”

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  23. I have enjoyed reading your bird poems. I don’t know if Christie Wyman has stopped here this month, but I need to send her your way. I love the goldfinch poem. The alliteration makes this one bounce with rhythm. I am toying with the idea of starting a nature blogging community (Solace and Connection) where we share our noticings about nature through writing with a weekly link-up. Would you be interested in joining that?

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  24. Your goldfinch poem is “pure gold.” Poetic language and images abound. I really enjoyed this and admire your creativity and ability to stick with one subject throughout the month.

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  27. There is so much movement in the poem about the the blue heron, as he “steps gracefully / Among the seaweed covered rocks / His agile neck curves and darts” I can see him moving.

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  29. So much depends on a Canada goose mother.
    Vigilant and steadfast
    Like the bird poet.

    Adding your poems to my list of things to come back and visit.
    So many slicers, never enough time.

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  30. I am quite in awe at your poetic talent. I seriously think you should make yourself a book of all these lovely poems. I am also very grateful you referred to the Canada Goose! I wrote about my aunt teaching me, they are not Canadian Geese, Canadians are people from Canada, they are Canada Geese! Hahaha! Made me love your poem even more.

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  32. Your poem today, this last day of our March writing challenge, offers hope spring will arrive. It has not so much as peeked into our postage stamp corner of the country. I do miss the cardinals I admired as a child in Missouri. Lovely imagery as always. See you for poetry in April.

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