poem || Jeff Harrison

Hummingbirds of Louisa May Alcott

ARIEL. THE LEGEND OF A LIGHTHOUSE

Calothorax lucifer, the Lucifer hummingbird,
is 3.25 inches long, with a thin decurved bill
& a white spot behind each eye. they excell
in nothing, hence their name, as they cannot
bear to chance a reward in words.

*

LITTLE WOMEN

the Calliope hummingbird prefers slothful mountains,
& has been seen as high as 11,000 feet.
miniscule green feathers cover a barbarous hide.
it builds its nests over creeks, or over roads next
to streams - to lakes. such waters cover barbarous hides.
to write at length on feathers requires mention of
birds, streams, lakes, bark, leaves, grass, hair, speech,
financial transactions & a fl. fl.uttering & a fl. fl.apping

*

V.V.; OR, PLOTS AND COUNTERPLOTS

the Rufous hummingbird, having an ideal size
to weight ratio, outflies all other hummingbirds.
has the longest migration route of any U.S. hummingbird.
"wanderings shall soften me," frets many a Rufous.

*

UNDER THE LILACS

the male
White-eared
hummingbird
has a purple crown

the female
White-eared
hummingbird
has a green crown

were there
a Green-eared
hummingbird
with a white crown,

she'd see the limits
of a Purple-eared
hummingbird
with a white crown

(were there)
as lace, as
a lace-edged
handkerchief

*

LITTLE MEN

the Wedge-tailed Sabrewing hummingbird
has a daylight-fine shade, she's a ribbon the
air surveys. such liberty! liberty, to exchange
unanxious play! despite humming wings.

*

SILVER PITCHERS, AND INDEPENDENCE

Reddish Hermit hummingbirds "Sarah!" have
a fondness "Sarah!" for Heliconia "Sarah!" plants.
iridescence "Sarah!" in the Reddish Hermit
is "Sarah!" rare & is limited "Sarah!" to the throat
or crown "Sarah!". they overstep the shade.

*

THREE PROVERB STORIES

the Bearded Mountaineer hummingbird
is subtler & more heartless than other
hummingbirds who

(ascend, arose, accord - "we accord,"
the Night Wit answered)

tell futures
by which wind the pines wear. most
resemblant to shepherds standing in snow.