Readers Write: A poetic welcome to ‘Hummingbird’

The Island Now
Hummingbird photo_Carl Howard

Good day. The house gardens are quite prolific and are beginning to attract hummingbirds, but they are too quick to photograph. As luck would have it, a U.S. EPA colleague sent a wonderful original photograph that is perfect. I thought readers might enjoy the respite consisting of my short poem and the photo, in an attempt to capture the joy of seeing hummingbirds and the joy of summer. As always, feel free to share.

“Hummingbird”

A sunny vision
like the crocus that rises on a canvas of snow
what adores our rapt attention
I saw the blossom

My happy happy life is bisect
by a brief but potent joy
and what my faith knows
when I saw the prayer departing

One with the bee
and the butterfly
and the summer breeze
Here—hovering—and gone!

Stephen Cipot

New Hyde Park

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