BACKYARD SUMMER DRAMA

The last dog walked

and garage rolled shut,

backyard stirrings cue

the porch’s invitation

promising tonight’s

summer evening presentation. 

Take a chair

dim the lights.

the curtain rises . . .

to heavy muggy air

settling, darkening to night –                                                              

harkening the first fireflies...

Stage left, then right.

Rise and disappear.

Cricket interludes intrude –

scattered . . .

building . . .

pulsing . . .                                             

to a surround sound

insect etude.

Rock it, cricket, rock it, cricket

rock it, rock it, rock it, rock it, . . .,

          

From a tree,

Excited chirping

sears the air –

trumpeting tension.

Unseen.

Where?

Minute gnats

take the air bringing

twisting bats weaving

through their dinner space.

Then long-awaited fireworks    

slo-mo, everywhere                             

rise and disappear –

a firefly ground finale,                   

ballet sans choreography

the heated evening mating urge, severe.

Rock it, cricket, rock it, rock it, rock it

A stir of breeze;

showers rattle the maple leaves.

The drama cools.

Night’s curtain falls.

Time to  exit

reluctantly

Dennis R. Keefe

May3, 2007

  NURTURING NATURE’S DANCERS

From the backyard arise
our first fireflies.

Months of magic released, spring’s
annual pool, genes,
from last year’s wintered over
beetle larval leavings.

Now lightning bugs poise
to open summer’s show.

Mates to be sought,
eggs to be wrought.
Their air, warmed and conditioned, just so.


On the day before summer
they danced at dusk.

Now through July,
    seeing it a must,
their daily rise
to a silent frantic
ground finale.


Luminescent genes
egg on the dance
that continues the pool.

DRK
9/13/11

 

 

HOSPITALITY PLUS

 

Well, I dropped the ball on this one

Our first hummingbird visitor of the year

And nothing to offer

Scurry, find the gear

 

         Now, hooked for the summer

                  Waiting, watching, refilling

                           My kitchen views now captured

 

Did its mama arrange this?

Or did the baby manage on its own?

A perfect speckled fawn in our flower bed

 

Where is the mama?

Our neighbor says she’s eating her garden

Will it come get this thing?

 

Next day’s report, across the street

 

                  Whew.  Good job, Mother Nature

                           Be a good neighbor, little one  

                                    And return next year

                                             I’m thinking a first birthday photo

                                                      For the refrigerator

 

Duck drama near the porch

Clutch bunched to brood

We marveled, oohed

Checked daily

Tried not to disturb 

But, alas, awry

One at a time

The eggs went astray

Other guests, it seems

Found their way to a meal

Ms. Hen may think twice

Before home-sharing again

 

And now this

Cooper's Hawks nesting in our tree

Songbirds taking note

and disappear

Bees love our anemones -- easy eco bit

Until Carole’s arms and hands discovered them

Nesting ‘neath the peonies

 

         Pained gardener

                  Engaged an eradicator

                           Don’t tell the wrong people

 

Bird feeding hobbyist

Other critters, opportunists

Mice, chipmunks, voles,

Share our feeders

And household warmth

 

         Trapped 18 this year

                  I hope there is a critter heaven

                           Way over yonder

 

And, of course, the flowers

Hours arranging

These go here

Those go there

 

         They get picky

                  Before picking

                           Thirsty, mostly

         Just,

                  Constant care

                           Carole, the enabler

                                    Can’t wander 

 

DRK

6/16/22