Birds, Their Song Stills My Heart by Deanne Quarrie

Bluejay

I see you perched on the tree
checking the perimeter for cats lurking.
The feeder below, inviting you down
but you, ever cautious,
make sure that none are about.

Suddenly the sparrows swarm in,
eagerly eating the seed offered.
They flit and flap, and fly about,
scattering seed as they cover the feeder.

Throwing caution to the wind,
down you fly,
eager for your share of the offerings.

You find treats on the ground,
seeds from the tallow above,
a seed so large,
from my window, I see it in your mouth.

I watch you prance, a friend joining you,
Your perky crest and colorful plumage,
your morning dance brings pleasure
as I ponder my coming day.
over my first cup of coffee.

Watcher

Watcher sits just behind my left shoulder,
His disdainful look ever with me.
I asked him once what I could do to make his job easier
And he declared quite vehemently, “open your eyes.”

Hawks see everything below them
Soaring as they do on high
Their keen eyes missing nothing
In their search for predator and prey.

Solitary creatures by nature
Territorial, sharing only with owl,
Hunting by day as owl seeks at night
Allowing no other intrusion.

Soaring majestically in your realm
You have chosen to enter mine,
Offering clear vision for what I miss
In my narrowly focused world.

It is like having an added sense,
A keen knowing beforehand,
Of what is coming
Before my poor eyes can see.

Let me take up my drum
And climb upon your back.
We’ll visit new realms on wings together
seeing with wonder the land below.

Treasured friend, bonded brother
You offer this gift of sight
You are steadfast and loyal
As you for me watch day after day.

Brother in spirit, may I be worthy
Of your loyalty and love,
For your gift of vision and clear seeing
I honor you and trust you always.

 

Haidig

Crow, you are so smart
With your large cawing voice,
Unique and patient in flight.

Your compact body with
long-legs and thick neck
a heavy, straight bill.
with broad, rounded wings
and wing-tip feathers that spread like fingers.

I am amazed at your fine body
you have not a speck of any other color –
all black, even your legs and bill,
you could teach us a lot about being with others
living in large flocks, sometimes of millions.

How do you do that
when I have trouble with only a few?

You are inquisitive
and very mischievous, my friend
and so good at solving problems

I just don’t know how you do it
eating almost anything
… even robbing chicks from nests

Oh, bold Crow,
you are so aggressive
you often chase away hawks
I know you must surely be full of yourself!

I see you In fields, open woodlands, and forests
on lawns and in parking lots
you raid garbage cans and
pick over what we throw out.

You are a great teacher
of cleverness and versatility
It is no wonder you are beloved of the Goddess

 

Great Blue

A gift
one single feather
left behind as you flew from my sight.

Great blue, with your heavy graceful wings
lifting up to fly
leaving the grace of your wisdom with me.

You stand alone as do I
strong and grounded in two realms
of Sky and Land.

We explore and do many things together you and I
dreaming into reality
all that can be.

We depend on no one
the gifts of earth and water
provide for our needs.

The fire of our majestic spirit
takes us aloft as we seek sustenance
our mighty wings lifting us onward.

Your gift on my altar
one single feather
a reminder of who we are – together.

 

Deanne Quarrie. D. Min. is a Priestess of the Goddess. She is the author of six books. She is the founder of the Apple Branch where she teaches courses in Feminist Dianic Witchcraft and Northern European Witchcraft. She has recently opened Iseum Benedictus and is a hierophant in the Fellowship of Isis. She mentors those who wish to serve others in their communities. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Ocean Seminary College and is the founder of Global Goddess, a worldwide organization open to all women who honor some form of the divine feminine. She is currently working on her newest project, the creation of a Wiccan tradition, holding Hekate at the Center, called Hekate’s Tribe and is hoping to open at Samhain of this year.