Heather Pound

i pulled weary eyes away from the screen

to peer out the window, refocus, sighing

then because the day was joyless and grey

~~~~

until i saw a tui, my favorite bringer of song,

perched just outside, and unaware of my gaze.

a quiet moment for him to preen,

cloud-like plume at neck bobbed.

~~~~

tui’s feathers in sunlight are glossy, coal-black,

and often not noticed unless they sing or the

‘pffft pffft pffft’ of wings announce their flight.

~~~~

but due to the dullness of the day, i saw his costume

closer than ever before, and glimpsed his

colors true: teal, blue, bronze, iridescent swirls,

and intricately painted with finest brush.

~~~~

and i mused that absence of sun can be beautiful too,

and turned back to task, but with a welcoming of the day

and a soul that was filled with light.

~~~~

—sometimes words just can’t quite capture a moment……but i tried, and this is a lovely photo, but still doesn’t capture what i saw!