HAIKU BIRDING
by Jane Beal, PhD
2 Works by Jane Beal Poetry: Sanctuary Songs from the Secret Life (recordings) Made in the Image Tidepools Magical Poems for Girls Magical Poems (Illustrated) Love-Song Love-Song (recordings) The Bird-Watcher’s Diary Entries Butterflies Wild Birdsong Epiphany: Birth Poems A Pure Heart Jazz Birding Sunflower Songs Roots of Apples The Jazz Bird (recordings)
Rising: Poems for America Spiritual Aviary for the Year, Vol. 1, 2, & 3 Transfiguration: A Midwife’s Birth Poems After the Labyrinth (private collection) Uncaged Journey Praise & Lament: Psalms for the God of Birds Garden Hail, Radiant Star!: Seven Medievalist Poets Bliss Wide Awake and Dreaming Song of the Selkie In the Santa Cruz Mountains
Fiction: Eight Stories from Undiscovered Countries Hourglass (under review) Literary and Cultural Studies: John Trevisa and the English Polychronicon Translating the Past: Essays on Medieval Literature Illuminating Moses: A History of Reception The Signifying Power of Pearl Approaches to Teaching the Middle English Pearl Pearl: A Middle English Edition and Modern English Translation Illuminating Jesus in the Middle Ages Becoming the Pearl-Poet: Perceptions, Connections, Receptions (forthcoming)
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HAIKU BIRDING by Jane Beal, PhD
Los Angeles & San Francisco, CA: Green Wall Press, 2020
4 Haiku Birding Copyright @ 2020 by Jane Beal ISBN All rights reserved Acknowledgments: Thanks to editor David McCaffery, my five haiku from “Bolsa Chica Wetlands” and my hokku “a tiny bird” from “Camp Mariastella” appear in The Asahi Haikuist (October and November 2018). Thanks to editor Michael Ketchek, my poem, “absence,” which consists of three haiku, appears in Frogpond (Winter 2019), the tri-annual journal of the Haiku Society of America. My haiku, “sunset over Wales,” appears in Frogpond (Fall 2019). Thanks to editor Ray Rasmussen, my haibun, “Awake,” appears in Haibun Today 13:1 (March 2019), with the title, “A Walk to Remember.” Thanks to Ian Storr, my haiku “a hawk in the rain,” appears in Haiku Presence (Fall 2019). Thanks to John Han, “a marbled godwit” (haiga / photo-ku), “Descanso Gardens at Christmas,” “my heart,” and “epiphany” appear in Fireflies’ Light 17 (December 2019). Thanks to David McMurray, three of my haiku from “In Search of Tuna Canyon Labyrinth,” specifically “the rear-view mirror,” “sliver of white moon,” and “we looked for a maze,” appear The Asahi Haikuist (20 December 2019). Thanks to Jan and Kevin Keough, a version of my poem, “From Los Angeles to Vallejo and Back,” which consists of sixteen haiku, appears in my micro-chapbook, Journey (East Greenwich, RI: Origami Poems, 2019). Thanks to Jan and Kevin Keough, a version of my poem, “Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens,” which consists of eleven haiku, appears in my micro-chapbook, Garden (East Greenwich, RI: Origami Poems, 2019). Thanks to Jan and Kevin Keough, a version of my poem, “Bliss,” which consists of six haiku, appears in my micro-chapbook, Bliss (East Greenwich, RI: Origami Poems, 2019). See: See https://www.origamipoems.com/poets/372-jane-beal.
5 DEDICATION For my godson, Mikael Rolando Guerra Here I give you my memories of birds, seen before you were born! Te amo, mi ahijado precioso.
“... their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.� ~ Jesus Matthew 18:10
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EPIGRAPH dry riverbed you have a new life as a footpath Ha Nugyen
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HAIKU BIRDING __
8 TABLE OF CONTENTS Fall Bolsa Chica Wetlands ... 12 Camp Mariastella ... 13 Amber Ridge in September ... 15 Haibun: Another World ... 16 Puddingstone Reservoir ... 17 Rancho Palos Verdes Peninsula ... 21 Amber Ridge in October ... 22 Haibun: Awake ... 26 Puddingstone Reservoir Loop ... 27 To the Monarch Butterfly Grove ... 29 Amber Ridge in November ... 31 Haibun: Rising ... 32 Winter A Journey to Northern California ... 34 In Search of Tuna Canyon Labyrinth ... 35 Birding Bolsa Chica Again ... 37 Descanso Gardens at Christmas ... 39 Amber Ridge in December ... 40 Haibun: Candle Lights in the Clouds ... 42 Ballona Freshwater Marsh ... 43 Royal Palms Beach / White Point ... 44 Hansen Dam ... 45 Puddingstone Reservoir, East Shore ... 46 Birding Bonelli before Epiphany ... 47 Amber Ridge in January ... 49 Los Angeles to Vallejo and Back ... 50 Amber Ridge in February ... 52
9 Spring My heart ... 54 In my parents’ backyard ... 54 Amber Ridge in March ... 55 Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens ... 56 On Highway 37 to San Rafael and Back ... 58 Looking ... 59 At Benicia State Park ... 60 Amber Ridge in April ... 61 Snow Creek Park ... 62 Hiking Hansen Dam Again ... 63 San Dimas Canyon Park / Horse-thief Canyon Park ... 64 Santa Monica Pier ... 65 Haibun: Swallows on the L.A. Waterfront... 68 Amber Ridge in May ... 69 Summer Point Bonita Lighthouse ... 71 Safari West ... 72 Amber Ridge in June ... 73 Bliss ... 74 Amber Ridge in July: Abundance ... 78 Returning to Northern California Again ... 79 Seal Beach ... 80 A Visit North ... 81 Amber Ridge in August ... 83 Sunrise, Sunset ... 84 September Morning ... 85
10 Other Days the childhood play-place story ... 87 my spiritual friend ... 87 absence ... 88 Haibun: Waters ... 89 injury ... 90 juxtaposition ... 90 art exhibit ... 91 Haiga: A Marbled Godwit ... 92 perimenopause ... 93 epiphany ... 94 About the Poet ... 96
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FALL __
12 Bolsa Chica Wetlands Huntington Beach, California O Reddish Egret! dancing free in the dawn-light wild in the wetlands sun-diamonds spangle the bright blue, wetland waters brown pelicans nod Great Blue Heron stands on one leg in the water morning yoga two young night herons perch in autumn’s naked tree looking back to shore clouds cover the sun darkening the oil rig cormorants fly off 9.23
13 Camp Mariastella, San Gabriel Mountains Wrightwood, California golden light on my skin the beginning red-breasted nuthatch upside down in a pine tree morning happiness! tiny bird hidden in mountain mahogany a vanishing song pine needles so dry in sunlight future fire scent of butterscotch from a Ponderosa pine losing her perfume
14 storytelling stump water-rings, drought-rings, the cut that felled, the black cracks sound of a big wind moving through the mountain pines small birds take shelter sunlight on green leaves turning in the autumn wind momentary joy purple-pink sunset over mountain silhouettes dreaming in the dark 9.29
15 Amber Ridge in September La Verne, California woodpecker at work quick avian carpenter! black holes in white birch black phoebe at night standing still by the house-light a gray moth at risk dark gray rainclouds roll over six perched mourning doves they scatter in flight! Sept.
16 Another World Bottle-bush trees, with red blooms, where bees hum and hummingbirds chitter; tall maples, all in green, where parrots and crows perch on high to look out; birch trees with dead branches that dangle over white roses; shaggy eucalyptus trees with long slender leaves, on the other side of the fence, that spread their scent over me; pink hibiscus flowers, glimmering in the light, that open like paradise: who planted all of you here? Like ghosts, like guardians from another world. I count you among my friends, who are also among the living and the dead. a little black dog beside the massive tree roots youth, old age, and Time October Amber Ridge & Bonelli Regional Park
17 Puddingstone Reservoir Bonelli Regional Park, La Verne, CA sharp-eyed hawk on high nothing moves in the green field except autumn wind Canadian Geese honking through the gray rainclouds noisy silhouettes coots like big, black boats with tiny white beak-sails sailing far away
18 black phoebe circles low over land and water what is she catching? white lord of the lake Great White Heron standing tall reflection ripples a little black dog beside the massive tree roots youth, old age, and Time
19 blue heron soaring between white sky and green pond how wild the morning! snowy egrets, fly! the green pond is still beneath your rushing white wings least bittern on edge skittering and flittering near-invisible
20 green heron, wise sage, a streaky beard on your breast you watch everything Say’s phoebe fence-sits as the breeze ruffles her breast blushing while hunting dark-blue side feather on a female mallard duck patch of moon-lit sky 10.6
21 Rancho Palos Verdes Peninsula perfect hummingbird with your flashing bright gorget! bejeweled by the sea eating the petals from the Mexican sage bush – lesser goldfinches black cormorant sunning his wings by the sea – backward and forward
10.27
22 Amber Ridge in October green bush by the path western tiger swallowtail bright yellow joy-spot! squeaky violin the grasshopper sings all night in the dark bathroom myrtle warbler flits gray wings, white chin, spotted rump the rain is falling
23 by the bare rose bush cloudless sulphur butterfly – yellow and happy! sunny afternoon for a small, brown butterfly – the dog walks away lizards sunbathing run from a looming shadow – the sky is so clear
24 sunset-yellow sky framed by blue tree-silhouettes – a door opening the moon almost full shines through the dark tree branches – mirror of heaven
25 high branches spread wide for yellow-headed parrots – squawking fills the air! four perfect notes float from leaves growing through the fence – a white-crowned sparrow Morning! The full moon framed by purple bougainvillea – mother’s lullaby unseen wind carries the faint peeps of birds – hallowed evening Oct.
26 Awake You, O Opossum, are slinking along the edges of the building in the faint light of morning. Aren’t you nocturnal? Shouldn’t you be deep in a hole, sleeping? You’re so sly, pausing behind a spider plant when you notice me noticing you. You grow impatient, then bold, and finally sprint across the path to the next building. Is it the smell of frying bacon that makes you scuttle off that way, I wonder? I continue my walk, turn a corner, and see the full moon framed perfectly between the dark, green leaves and the luminescent, purple clusters of bougainvillea blossoms. the face of the moon my mother’s face over the baby’s cradle October Amber Ridge
27 Puddingstone Reservoir Loop Western Kingbird stands surveying all he can see until our eyes meet Hutton’s Vireo hiding behind the green leaves the wind blows sideways Western Grebes all round only one snowy egret and her reflection that white egret stands still in the rippling water reflection dancing sunlight-diamonds shine on the surface of water a moorhen dives in wrong turn in the woods sometimes we just have to go back to find the path
28 goldfinches at play zipping back and forth between earth and tree branches dark-eyed juncos seek food in the pine tree’s shadow light on the water I see it ahead a bridge over the water! my shoes are still dry off the path, two birds notice me noticing them I am close to home a common buckeye clinging to mustard flowers in the autumn wind sitting still I eat an apple and some walnuts – monarch butterfly! 11.10
29 To the Monarch Butterfly Grove and Back La Verne * Lompoc * Pismo Beach, CA the full moon playing hide and seek with the clouds the moon in the clouds as smoke rises to the sky rain after wildfires rainy and smoky here in Malibu Canyon a cold, wet ashtray cold by the ocean early in the gray morning then my nephew smiles! my nephew walks down the path to the butterflies and sees the first one!
30 eucalyptus trees with monarchs on their long leaves hopeful fluttering hope shines in your wings but there are so few of you where are the monarchs? monarch butterfly population cut in half lost in migration lost in my sorrow at the thought of losing you come back, butterflies! come, milkweed and nectar planted to save your life las mariposas mariposas speak: listen before it’s too late or we will perish Thanksgiving Nov.
31 Amber Ridge in November mockingbird peers down a black cat prowling around the old olive tree sunrise in the sky clouds turning pink, yellow, then white – the whole world is changed little oak titmouse calling behind the thick leaves my ears are open! sunrise-birds singing within the bottle-bush tree hope begins again Nov.
32 Rising The sun, rising, turns the sky white and yellow. The chill November air trembles in the dawn-light. The dusky blue silhouettes of the tall trees stretch toward that distant fire. How beautiful when a tiny bird flies across the panorama of the horizon! With a heart of prayer, I begin a journey toward the divine. my dog is sleeping at home in her plush, warm bed – dreams of happiness! November Amber Ridge
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WINTER __
34 A Journey to Northern California Interstate 5 * Blue Rock Springs Park * Ascot Parkway Pomegranates shine! red ornaments on a tree against a gray sky sunlight in the park the blue water is so bright when he kisses me light on the branches of two tall trees side by side – the bride and bridegroom cedar waxwings fly into the persimmon tree eating fruit with joy Dec.
35 In Search of Tuna Canyon Labyrinth Santa Monica * Topanga Canyon * Malibu the rear-view mirror reveals the snow-capped mountains as we drive away the concrete archway covered in dark green ivy goes whizzing past us pale pink winter light glimmering on the ocean no labyrinth in sight royal terns stand on the edge of the rocky shore hidden among gulls the narrow road climbs into Topanga canyon she conquers her fear river of yellow leaves down the canyon a flood from heaven
36 sliver of white moon shining in the deep blue dark a broken seashell we looked for the maze but didn’t find it today the music played on 12.9
37 Birding Bolsa Chica Again black-winged surf scoter with your parti-colored beak broken piĂąata alone on the bridge until the tourists arrive loud voices rush past a snowy egret stands still on the dark, wet rocks yellow socks gleaming rows of white egrets overlooking the wetlands wise men meditate slender cormorants one enormous pelican leads their flotilla flocking together American Avocets find secret comfort
38 seven sleeping ducks one American Widgeon turns his head forward he cleans his feathers and scratches under his wing in the morning light northern pintail ducks! male and female, side-by-side, lovers sailing on another egret sails on the wind past me so close and so far osprey in a tree a king with three blue herons looking straight ahead a marbled godwit reflected in the water the hunter pauses 12.16
39 Descanso Gardens at Christmas Hutton’s vireo! little spirit of pure joy flitters by water the dark-eyed juncos three wise-men on a journey to bow down to Love carols from treetops! music reveals angels swooping over earth the woodpecker’s beak hammers at the old oak trees carpenter-father sweet, spotted towee preparing her gentle breast the virgin-mother step back, look and see I kneel down quietly in silence and awe light shines through the oaks on the antlers of the stag Jesus, Prince of Peace Dec. 22nd La Cañada Flintridge
40 Amber Ridge in December crow cawing madly wakens me in the morning death and disaster a black crow standing at the top of the pine tree can’t see the future ginger cat sits still bright amidst the fallen leaves tree squirrel freaks out tree-cutters cut down the dead birch trees branch by branch – thunder and lightning! glancing up, I see a Northern Rough-Winged Swallow perched high in the light sunlight on the wall the shadow birds are dancing and singing aloud!
41 a bird calls my name from deep within the oak tree I cannot see her a Cedar Waxwing sings alone in a tall tree an empty, blue sky Dec.
42 Candle Lights in the Clouds Light the Christ-light. Pass the flame. Fill the church-hall with tiny, flickering candle lights. The lights shine before us, held in our hands, and they are reflected in the window that overlooks Los Angeles, too, as if a whole host of Invisible Spirits were holding their candle lights in the clouds, singing Silent Night with us on Christmas Eve. singing Silent Night tiny candle flames shining in the window pane Dec. 24th Belair Presbyterian
43 Ballona Freshwater Marsh why is this fence here? the common yellowthroat laughs in between the reeds I stop, turn, and see two Eurasian Collared Doves one bowing three times song sparrow, singing! three quick notes, then a trill, then two more low notes I follow you, sweet California gnatcatcher flitting down the path 12.26
44 Royal Palms Beach black oystercatchers orange beaks pointed seaward their feet in the sand one oystercatcher is different, white-bellied, but isn’t alone the whimbrel’s curved beak and dark eye under white brow catch my attention on Royal Palms Beach a father and his young son walk by the water 12.26
45 Hansen Dam crow in a tall pine looking out toward the water where am I going? dark-morph Swainson’s hawk on high hunting for small prey looks into my eyes Not a female finch! an American Pipit breast washed with yellow a wrentit alone not a bushtit in a group still hungry for more a Great White Egret stalking away from the shore sees me and flies off No white-faced ibis! only later do I know what I really saw 12.27
46 Puddingstone Reservoir, East Shore the Swainson’s Hawk kills a green-headed Mallard Duck and eats out his eyes the Great-Tailed Grackle cries aloud from the tree-top I am distracted a rare blonde Mallard! unique among the others shining in sunlight Look! A young Snow Goose with gray feathers is sailing without his parents Dark-Eyed Junco pairs fly from the tree to the sand four of my old friends O White-Crested Duck, you are wearing a strange hat long before Easter 12.29
47 Birding Bonelli before Epiphany finches in a tree already the morning brings loveliness to me Peregrine Falcon peers down the hillside at dawn and sees me watching black-capped night heron standing alone in the reeds searching for breakfast young, light brown, bright-beaked double-crested cormorant green water rippling O Great White Egret! turning in mid-air, landing beside a black coot two white mallards trail a green-headed male duck stranger than fiction three Muscovy ducks hiss and pester a fourth one until he flies off
48 sassy hummingbird first chitter, then flitter, and flash your bright gorget! tricolored blackbirds fly down to the rocky shore – the gulls look around whistling grackle striding blackly on green grass a trombone player! killdeer always cry like broken-hearted women whose sons died in war a bird on a rock dips and sips the lake water then cleans her feathers young white-crowned sparrows singing in the gray bracken impatient to grow one lesser goldfinch whistles on a chain-link fence a lonely dawn-song
1.5
49 Amber Ridge in January orange-crowned warbler deep in the bougainvillea eating happily! morning light the white roses have pink in them one dark winter’s night through the yellow maple leaves sliver of bright moon after the flash flood a murder of crows cawing at the top of a bare tree hummingbirds in love my bright red Christmas beanie shining in the sun! Jan.
50 From Los Angeles to Vallejo and Back from Los Angeles ... Angelenos drive slowly through the pouring rain no longer racing red-winged blackbirds sing together in Tejon Pass the rain stops falling to Vallejo red-breasted robin on the rooftop after rain singing to a friend no old woman here! eyes sparking with youthfulness, she laughs everyday three brothers drinking before nine in the morning I’ve seen this before in a sudden storm hail breaks hard on my windshield the road disappears my lover leans back his eyes meeting mine like doves drawn to the river my love is with me quietly talking at night intimate whispers
51 my lover draws close our hearts sing without touching, kiss without kissing I stand with Stacey on the pier and look across the water at the white boat the bridge spans the Bay from Benicia to Crockett view from the Dead Fish three children painted in bright colors yesterday picture them smiling! moon sets at sunrise in pale pink, purple, and blue as we walk and pray my grandmother’s heart is being opened today a new pacemaker ... and back pink blossoms sunlight on green grass swaying in the wind snow-capped peaks greening mountainsides spring is near 14-19 Feb.
52 Amber Ridge in February Oak titmouse trilling a love-song to the Sun sunlight on green leaves! a bright yellow goldfinch looks over his shoulder under the roof tile the Bewick’s wren is building a nest for his mate after the rainfall raindrops on a pale, pink rose sunlight on gemstones squirrel sprints across the road and climbs the chain-link fence and disappears Feb.
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SPRING __
54 my heart light on the red leaf of the liquid amber tree the night is over 3.5 in my parents’ backyard pink peach tree blossoms bejeweled with shining raindrops – diamonds from heaven Mar. Vallejo, CA
55 Amber Ridge in March a hawk in the rain looking down from a high branch I meet his dark eyes a murder of crows conversing in a treetop what are they planning? a gray dove started from a tree into the air orange tabby cat magical journey painted lady butterflies up from the desert March
56 Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens entering the garden water trickles down the hollow of an old stone a bird stoops to drink turtle pond a turtle hatchling is all alone on her stone but the sun is warm two turtles sunbathe on a stone in the dark pond watching me watch them an older turtle circles in the pond water looking for a stone duck pond the hen is asleep but the drake is holding his morning yoga pose humble waterfall pouring down into the pond going deeper still afternoon sunlight a green leaf in deep water reaches for the sky
57 origami in the garden white origami cast in metal and shining birds and butterflies a paper airplane! Then the white peace crane unfolds to become a star shining buffalo with a small bird on his back looking out at us leaving the garden the old mother-tree and her branching canopy stays in memory 4.2 inspired by the artwork of Robert Lang and Kevin Box in the exhibit at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens Claremont, California * April 2019 & dedicated to my friend, Michelle Smoler
58 On Highway 37 to San Rafael and Back Day the white clouds lie in the dark arms of the mountains two lovers entwined Night the full moon veiled by a dark cloud breaks through shining crown! 4.19
59 Looking foresight the green hills over the wetlands look ahead hunting by the waterside a white bird looks intently into the shallows 4.21
60 At Benicia State Park blue-and-gray scrub jay perched on a branch looking out over the water 4.22
61 Amber Ridge in April four western kingbirds atop a greening maple sing out for springtime! mockingbird warns crow who stalks over the green grass until he is chased! My bright orange shirt! A hummingbird follows me on my morning walk As I pass by, all the painted butterflies burst from the bush! Apr.
62 Snow Creek Park Walnut, CA sunlight plays with deep green shadows – barn swallow! two robins stand still on the lawn by Snow Creek until they fly off dog with one blue eye sees the whole world differently looking left or right a dazzling bright blue flashes from fence-post to tree a male blue-bird in May! I never see two black phoebes hunt together – mother and child 5.11
63 Hiking Hansen Dam Again dark-morph Swainson’s hawk lands in the yellow-grass field sparrows stop singing black-headed grosbeak? no, a spotted-towhee sings high in a green tree six great white herons standing on different branches in one leafless tree cliff-swallow sky-dance! wheeling over the water and the concrete dam Vaux’s swifts on the fence four of them looking at me ’til the wind rises blue wings flash by me! what is a magpie doing here in the desert? follow the water back to the hard beginning of the sun-lit path 5.12
64 San Dimas Canyon Park / Horse-thief Canyon Park a long line of oaks down the middle of the park hide the spring bluebirds a spray of poppies growing out of the cement beside the horse fence I hear you singing unexpected music – California Thrasher! from a park bench, see four bright yellow birds dart out – curious finches my little old dog hot and panting in the sun keeps pace with no leash 5.18
65 Santa Monica Pier ferris wheel! from high in the sky the ocean endless waves roll foaming to shore the seagull hovering circling the pier in neon happiness! our gondola swings without fear slow down, stop, slip away into the night-crowd rainbow-bright! the yellow seahorse behind bars escaping in contemplation two fishers
66 cinnamon sugar on pretzels stone dragon sandy sea and a child’s ship close to shore 5.19
67 Santa Monica Pier ferris wheel! from high in the sky the ocean endless waves roll foaming to shore past oil rigs two fishers in contemplation walk away passing by the rainbow seahorse behind bars a dark well people peer into curiously the dragon facing a child's ship in the sand ferris wheel! slowing to a stop at sunset jb
68 Swallows on L.A. Waterfront Yesterday afternoon, I was walking along the L.A. Waterfront from the Maritime Museum parking lot to the Cirque du Soleil big-top, blue-and-yellow tent to see “Amaluna.” As I was walking by the water, through a line of trees on either side of the path, the barn swallows were swooping all around me like angels! They made me laugh with delight. I love their brilliant blue-and-orange colors … On the way back, after the show, the same thing happened again — only this time, the birds were northern rough-winged swallows! They were very glad-hearted in flight, swooping together and apart in elongated oval and figure-eight dances in mid-air, at top speed. Seeing them filled my heart with joy! barn swallows swooping! northern rough wing’ swallows dancing – angels in mid-air jb L.A. Waterfront San Pedro, CA 5.26
69 Amber Ridge in May how green the tree looks against the cloudy, gray sky misty rain falling red bottle-bush spikes fallen from tree to pavement by purple petals a black crow flying under a nearly full moon Amber Ridge at dawn May
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SUMMER __
71 Point Bonita Lighthouse, Marin Headlands hidden birds singing we walk a narrow path down to the wind-tunnel the slender bridge sways between one cliff and the next my mother grips me lighthouse on the edge! guardian of the seashore above the gray waves my lover has been here before me: he knows how to find the way back black binoculars the cormorants on Bird Island look out to the sea 6.3
72 Safari West two pink flamingoes bow their heads close together in the green shadow sweet demoiselle crane tilts her head and follows us lady-in-waiting a tall giraffe comes after me with her doe-eyes her long neck reaching a rhinoceros alone behind a man’s fence can smell a female is the rover safe are the zebras really wild the guide won’t get out a white-bellied stork sits, wings open to the sun, a strange yoga-pose the baby monkey nurses at his mother’s breast no tourists in sight 6.5
73 Amber Ridge in June my glasses are off blurry palm trees sway over the shimmering pool loud, shrill mockingbirds defending a tall, green tree the Merlin takes flight! white clouds coming down on the peak of the mountain a piping bird’s song June
74 Bliss (Britain 2019) London at St. James’s Park birds sail on shallow water – people walking past Wales at Tintern Abbey, a green tree by a stone wall – the robin takes flight at Castle Chepstow cliffs overlook the river – the ancient guard stands sunset over Wales – a girl looks through the window of a speeding train Hereford the mappamundi at Hereford Cathedral – unchaining the past a man sits alone on a bench in a green court looking at the church from the tower-top a busy, modern city – the medieval bridge
75 Leeds at Fountains Abbey Saint Monica softly breathes – the peopled waters writing on the wall at Dominic’s Friary – translating Latin tibi gloria, tibi laus, tibi gratiarus actio walking down the hill to Indian food in Leeds – the blue hydrangea York Museum Gardens – a Yorkshire hedgehog waddles under a green bush bright gold bird-cages and imaginary birds – magical alleys an old woman sits on the park bench by herself – the river flows by
76 Castle Howard at Castle Howard little, brown butterflies dance in the heather at all four corners of the Temple of the Wind women made of stone in the Rose Garden sitting under a shade-tree a girl eats, prays, loves Yorkshire at Jervaulx Abbey Swaledale sheep lie down in peace – small birds are singing at Castle Bolton between vineyard and hawks’ mews – bright, orange lilies Aysgarth Falls streaming over the brown and white stone – a photographer London Suanplu Chorus in the British Library – echoing song! June-July 2019
77 postscript: standing on a stone in a stream the pied wagtail admires the water
78 Abundance: Amber Ridge in July green summer apples hanging ripe over the wall now fall down to me! Amber Ridge July
79 Returning to Northern California Again my mother’s birthday a perfect sliver of moon hangs in the window
80 Seal Beach summer light – people on the beach are shadows a long pier – a first-year gull hangs overhead a strong wind – suddenly my hair turns wild one red eye – a pigeon looks up from below an oil rig – blinking lights above the ocean fishermen pack up and walk back with their poles waves turning over on the shore at sunset 8.31
81 A Visit North I. birds whistle then turn the air blue sunshiny day! I stand still under the pine tree chickadees! (Common Spaces by Stacey’s Place Concord, CA) II. yellow moon rising in the sky at sunset her round face shines in the water by the road the moon leaps from pond to pond in the blue dark (On Hwy 37 Between San Rafael and Vallejo, CA)
82 III. bright peaches shine in the green leaves the wind blows morning comes with September rain the door shuts (my parents’ home, Vallejo, CA) Sept
83 Amber Ridge in August palm tree silhouette against the sunrise-pink sky – then, the hummingbird! golden-pink sunrise! light from the throne of heaven streams across the sky Aug.
84 Sunrise, Sunset crows by the highway flying over the flatlands a hot sun rises the red rose illuminated at sunset 9.17 - 9.18 Hwy 5 & Amber Ridge
85 September Morning waking up mist on the mountain cool morning silent and still on a bare branch beyond the wall northern mockingbird the white moon hangs over the oak cool morning 9.19 Amber Ridge
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OTHER DAYS __
87 the childhood play-place story girl in a cornfield looking up and daydreaming white-cloud palaces 9.29 my spiritual friend black phoebe waiting for me on the edge of time the fence is so high 10.6
88 absence my father gathers blackberries from thick brambles – old hands scratched by thorns
we watched the sunset by the sea at summer’s end – now, rain is falling
white hospital room with no view from the window – the last time I saw him 10.12
89 Waters Bolsa Chica Wetlands. Crystal Cove Beach. Hidden waterfalls discovered after long hikes in the mountains. Water, water everywhere! When the rain falls, it swells the flood. Lightning! Thunder! Let it roll across the sky and echo in the world like a deep drum, like the heart of a god: beating, pounding, the sound ground against an invisible rib cage, hard and bony, in heaven, in a body curled around the earth, like a lover holding the one he loves. now you will kiss me my mouth opening to you bright flame of desire! October SoCal
90 Injury shadow on the bone the x-ray’s light shows how deep the cut goes inside dark pink sunset sky glowing over the desert my injured hand aches God, not only bone but cut nerves and tendons, too how long ’til I heal? 11.4 juxtaposition your power is made perfect in my weakness, Lord 11.4
91 art exhibit yellow butterflies across the hunter’s rifle imitating life 12.13
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93 perimenopause I have a headache, splitting before from after perimenopause the blood flow was lighter then, now bright and heavy perimenopause changing makes me feel afraid these birds are flying 12.14
94 epiphany white heron mirrored in water still waiting a voice calls to the drowning boy birds take flight a man weeps inside the temple far away the sleeper awakens from dreams eyes open dark blue sky the sun peeks over the horizon sunlight shines on the green water two lovers winter’s chill in the falling rain old love song
95 little stars outside my window epiphany 1.7
96 ABOUT THE POET Jane Beal is a haiku poet. In addition to Haiku Birding, she has written many books of poetry, including Tidepools (2009), a collection of haiga, and Wild Birdsong (2011), a collection of haibun. Her haiku also appear in the Asahi Haikuist, Fireflies’ Light, Frogpond, Haibun Today, Haiku Journal, Haiku Presence, the Illinois Audubon Society Magazine, and her haiku micro-chaps from Origami Poems, Journey, Garden, Bliss, Wide Awake and Dreaming and In the Santa Cruz Mountains. She teaches at the University of La Verne in southern California. To learn more about her and her work, please see: https://janebeal.wordpress.com and https://birdwatchersdiary.wordpress.com
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Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good: his love endures forever Psalm 136:1
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