Small gifts of grace
by Elouise
On my way to the garage
A small thin cup-like piece
Of bird shell cracked and broken
Rests on our driveway
Beneath the holly tree
Where resident catbirds set up
temporary nesting quarters
Hours later and bone weary
I turn off the engine and hear
The unmistakable notes of a
Lullaby sweet and calming
Borrowed tunes full of grace
Soft and gentle from a catbird
Keeping watch from a nearby tree
I want to be a catbird when I grow up
Simple beauty singing made-up songs
Of quiet sometimes raucous joy
For everyone and no one in particular
Offering small benedictions to
Broken hearts and weary travelers
On their way from here to there
God bless us every one on this weekend of Sabbath rest and remembrance.
Β© Elouise Renich Fraser, 26 May 2019
Photo of a SE Pennsylvania Catbird found at reddit.com
This is a lyrically beautiful poem, Elouise. Thank you for gracing the middle of my Sunday!
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Thank you, Debbie, and you’re welcome! I’m sad I missed your sermon today. David took great notes, but it’s never the same as hearing you in person. Sigh….
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That makes a delightful change I enjoyed this one π
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I’ll have to send a sweet gray catbird your way! π
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Yes it might brighten up my life π π
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Consider it done…along with butterflies, dragonflies, hummingbirds, and bullfrogs in full concert! π
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Can’t wait π
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I wonder if there is anyone who has not wanted to be a bird – but they do live a quite precarious life. But a very lovely poem.
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Thanks, John. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Precarious, yes. Sort of like life?
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