44839: Poetry From a Zip Code, 2017

With only a few days left in National Poetry Month, this pedometer geek is sharing one of the poems from the first anthology, 44839: Poetry From a Zip Code. The anthology was published by Drinian Press, LLC, in conjunction with the Huron Public Library’s Poet Laureate program. This poem is called “Serving Berries.”

Serving Berries

With the house came trees,

we kept them all except two old maples.

A clump of trees was in the mix.

What they were, we had no idea,

but they were lichen-covered and leafy.

 

Next year, though,

the clump brought forth

soft blossoms of white,

followed by small berries

of red deepening to blue.

Not blueberries, but serviceberries

we discovered.

 

And with the advent of the berries

came masked birds,

glossy winged cedar waxwings.

First, one or two who nibbled and then disappeared,

A few days later, ten, fifteen, more

flocked to the tree, covering it,

noshing on succulent fruits,

clearing the tree.

Just as quickly, they were gone,

not to be seen again

until the next year.

 

Now we watch

waiting for blossoms,

the berries,

then the scouts, and

finally the flock.

 

The timing must be just right,

too early a spring,

other birds get the prize,

too late,

the scouts report back: the berries aren’t ripe.

 

Today, the masked scouts arrived,

picking at berries here and there,

cocking their heads this way and that,

as if deciding.

Will they bring the flock?

Is the timing right for the birds

and for the birdwatchers?

 

We watch. We wait.

~Nancy Brady, 2017

The blossoms are now out on our serviceberry tree. We have recently planted three more of them in the wildflower garden. Of course, it will take several years before they produce berries.  And now, we wait.

Photo by Nancy Brady, 2020