Bohemian Waxwings

Bohemian Waxwings

Nomadic

you follow the fruit

swallow your pleasures whole.

Photos and words copyright 2015 Carol Steel

Snow and Ice

The bird feeders wear ice lace, snow hats and icicles. 

My neighbour told me we've had over

twelve feet of snow this winter.

The ducks sit on the snow banks waiting for breakfast 

and are nearly eye level with us, as we sit at the kitchen table.

Our yard is waves and troughs of snow, a seascape of white.

It's all lovely but I'm weary of wading through snow 

and snow and snow.

Come See

Blue Jays lunch on cracked corn leftovers scattered on spruce. In discovery and discussion, they are screaming children at play. Come see, come see.

Winter Goes On

 "My snow bank is higher than yours."

This refrain, this relentless winter,

a season of snow measured

in vertical feet.

Despite our whining, the winter offers 

woods of magic shadows and light.

The chickadees and blue jays

fill trees with the chattering joy 

of their daily rounds.

Icicles form 

on eaves and porches,

 on the north side of the bird feeders,

the elbows of trees.

Winter is 

what winter is.

Snow and cold

and so much beauty.

Snow, Not Funny Anymore

Snow and snow and snow...

Message

The crow's voice sounds clear

in the cold. A pigeon lies

 dead on the snow.

Words and photos copyright 2015 Carol Steel

Winter Solitude

Winter solitude

in a world of one color,

the sound of wind.

Basho

(translated by Robert Hass)

A Saturday Drive

These are photos from our drive today through Albert County, New Brunswick.  

It began with the view from our kitchen window, in the blue early morning light with the sun coming up over Moncton.  The snow pulled us outside; we just had to go enjoy the day.

The next photo is taken driving down Caledonia Mountain, looking toward Riverside-Albert and out over the marshes to the Petitcodiac River and beyond.

There are a few of the Harvey Bank and Mary's Point Road areas. 

It was a gorgeous day for meandering through the back roads. 
The air was clear and clean, the colours crisp and the snow pristine.

We are lucky to live so close to such beauty.

Travelling Again

I'm on the road and in the air today, heading to Long Island, New York to visit my daughter and  her family.   I'm looking forward to seeing all of them today.  

Oh yes, today is the day.  

So far, my flights are still on time and going.

Send me off with wishes for good weather, or at least good enough to be able to fly.

Return of the Robins

Could this be spring coming, with the return of the robins, warbling "cheering-cheer-up-cheerio"?

Photos and words copyright 2011-2014 Carol Steel

Hard Winter for White Tail Deer

It is unusual for the white tail deer 

to show up in urban neighbourhoods 

during the day.  The snow is deeper this year 

and food in the woods must be harder to reach.  

They are eating corn we have thrown for the ducks, 

and nibbling the needles of yew and crab-apple branch tips.

Photos and words are copyright 2011-2014 Carol Steel.

Where the Fence Ends

Where the Fence Ends

Where the fence ends, a doe with her yearlings and fawns cross into my yard, over the crusted snow. Inside, I grab my camera. The doe looks at me, ears to the side, turning, listening. She stamps, huffs air and flags. Then leaping, they all disappear, leaving photos of brown blur.

I learn to be still; to wait by the window.

If they notice me now, I think they must know: I mean no harm, so they continue browsing, crab-apple, cedar, needles of yew. But, as I see their dark eyes seeing me, I feel such longing to escape this barrier of window and walls, to burst outside, breathe winter air, and run where the fence ends.


Photos and words are copyright 2011-2014 Carol Steel

Wordless Wednesday

Note: Wordless Wednesday's photo is of the bones of old snow and old trees at the edge of the Shediac River, taken last week in this slow, late spring.  Photo is copyright Carol Steel.

Common Mergansers

Common Mergansers

The river awakens.  Her belly hungry,

she swallows the ice floes

and gurgles with melt.

The wind whirls a dance

with stray leaves left behind

by runaway snow.

Wild ducks, the mergansers

fly low, arrow-straight,

splash in and float.

The sleek divers call out

in harsh notes, like the twangs

of guitar,  songs of fishing

in spring.

 

Words and photos are copyright ©Carol Steel.

It Continues to Snow

The snow goes on and on and on...

 

 

and if it were earlier in the year,

we would think it lovely.

 

But for now,

it makes spring weather

a longer wait.

 

Patience.

 

Enjoy

the thick flakes

drifting.

First Crocus

This photo is for everyone like me who woke to find snow in the yard again, with more to fall later today. 

I found this in my garden yesterday. 

There is hope that warmer weather will reach us.  May it arrive soon and bring with it swaths of spring flowers.

Waiting for Winter to End

 

 

 

Waiting for Winter to End

 

Outside to the east,

my garden slumbers

under a mat of leaves,

still slick with the last

ice crystals of winter.

 

Not one crocus

pushes purple fingers

through a sleeve of snow,

to fling out its fist

full of robin song.

Not one.

 

And no hardy squill

splits the worn brown skin

of an old oak leaf,

to trumpet its fresh blues.

 

Inside to the west,

the sun coaxes ladybugs

out of the crevices,

away from their sleep.

 

I listen to them dancing

tap-tap-tapping

between the window panes.

 

I watch them whirling,

kicking up their heels,

clicking their red wings.

 

They are keeping time

as Spring hums her own

intoxicating tune;

this throb so ancient,

nothing can resist.

 

Words and photo are copyright ©Carol Steel.