Song Without Words

The persuasive calls
of migrating spring birds
pull me outside during
April and May.

I feast on their
delicious colors
with my eyes:
Scarlet Tanager, 
Blackburnian Warbler. 

I drink their 
sweet syllables
with my ears:
Meadowlark, 
Song Sparrow.

Even their names
are pleasing to pronounce:
Rose-breasted Grosbeak,
Bay-breasted Warbler.

The vowels
forming in my mouth:
Indigo Bunting,
Bobolink.

The consonants
flitting across my tongue:
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher,
Chestnut-sided Warbler.

The syllables
fluttering between my lips:
Black-throated Green Warbler,
American Redstart.

Better than anything
on iHeartRadio.
Birdsong
without words.

© 2020 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Scarlet Tanager - Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan

2. Song Sparrow - Home Woods

3. Rose-breasted Grosbeak - Dixon, Illinois

4. Bay-breasted Warbler - Home Woods

5. Indigo Bunting - Egypt Valley Trail - Kent County - Michigan

6. Bobolink - Allegan State Game Area - Trails - Allegan County - Michigan

7. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Home Woods

8. Black-throated Green Warbler - Home Woods