Landscape, with Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Sliver of ruby in the emerald grass,
flash of sun— You’ve promised me

the rain’s curtain of beads won’t drown
the flickering wish uttered by the hibiscus;

you’ve sworn the bees in the hive won’t fold
their lemon-colored cards deckle-edged

with sugar. I believe you as I believe
the wind ruffling the orderly hedges,

turning the hapless pair of green
plastic garden pails on their sides.

You teach my heart to set itself
afloat on the skin of the sea,

tiny urn bearing its few remaining
cubes of sweetness. If I am calm,

it’s only because your name thrums
a feathered bruise just under my lips.

 

In response to an entry from the Morning Porch.

2 Replies to “Landscape, with Ruby-Throated Hummingbird”

  1. afloat on the skin of the sea,

    tiny urn bearing its few remaining
    cubes of sweetness.

    Great lines! I also love the close (and most of the rest of it). There can never be enough humingbird poems, I think.

Leave a Reply to Larry Ayers Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.