Hummingbird

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Hummingbird

The thought makes
trembling so

incomplete, a consequence
of knowledge attained. I look out

and see leaves flitting in the dusk,
the air closing around them

like the mouth of an old well
swallowing light. Such

hunger we find difficult
to comprehend. The wind shivers

through our lives and repeats itself,
though differently each time.

Every departure is a return.

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80 thoughts on “Hummingbird”

  3. I think these birds are beautiful, though we haven’t got them here, so sadly only seen them in photos and on videos.

    “The wind shivers

    through our lives and repeats itself,
    though differently each time.

    Every departure is a return.”

    What haunting and profound words.

    Liked by 3 people

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  6. Beautiful and thought-provoking. Thank you, Robert. I have a fond memory of a hummingbird sitting on a rosebush in my yard, where he sang for 20 minutes after a rain. I’d never seen one be still for that long.

    Liked by 1 person

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  14. This is a lovely piece! Hummingbirds can be quite the muse; they seem almost like mythical creatures in some ways… My hummingbird inspired piece was published in Verse-Virtual last month, thought I’d share it with you :).

    Perched

    Garnet glass refracts the day
    making my eyes squint to see
    the buzzing wings, nearly silent.
    Responding to the sweet scent,
    timid and thin, the beak leans in
    and sips syrup from the funnel.
    For a split second the bird’s feet rest,
    still to the touch, its weight unnoticed
    by the dangling, sugar-filled container.
    I don’t mean to, but I blink,
    and the perch stands alone.

    Here’s the link to my poems in their November issue: http://www.verse-virtual.com/trish-hopkinson-2014-november.html.

    Thanks for posting such wonderful stuff!

    Liked by 1 person

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  25. Hummingbirds are bananas. Even when they perch they remain twitchy, their wee heads oscillating back and forth, like a periscope on speed. If you want to explore something similar, I have to recommend “Joyas Voladoras” by Brian Doyle. It’s a pretty awesome essay that, through some word wizardry, entwines hummingbirds, blue whales, and love. Fine writing otherwise!

    https://theamericanscholar.org/joyas-volardores/#.VInvcHvHpU8

    Liked by 1 person

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  27. I enjoyed this poem because I like to watch a hummingbird when it visits the flowers in my garden.

    My favourite part is:

    “The wind shivers

    through our lives and repeats itself,
    though differently each time.

    Every departure is a return.”

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

  32. Your keen powers of observations as well as your facility with (not to mention felicity with) words make you a great poet. Thank you very much for all your support, and for spreading the word about my blog. I owe you big time. Also, have an ‘appy new year.

    Liked by 1 person

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