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A flash of orange and black
through sun-splattered aspen leaves,
the faintest glimpse of Baltimore Oriole;
or the brilliant scarlet shoulder sheen
as a Red-winged Blackbird warbles
from its wind-bent cat-tail perch;
or a high-above dissonant clamour
of a passing startle of Snow Geese
etched white on unmarred blue:
rare moments the willfully blind
view as commonplace, or do not see.
Beauty surrounds us—no charge,
no previous experience needed.
Stand awhile. Look and listen.
Make it last.
From A Thief of Impeccable Taste (SandCrab Books, 2011).
Used here with permission.
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Glen Sorestad is a Canadian poet, fiction writer, editor, publisher, anthologist, and public speaker. Author of more than 25 books of poetry and numerous short stories, his work has appeared in more than 70 anthologies and textbooks and his book, Selected Poems from Dancing Birches, was published in Italy in a bilingual edition. Glen has been appointed to The Order of Canada, that country's highest non-military honor, served as Saskatchewan’s first Poet Laureate from 2000 - 2004, and has given public readings of his poetry in every province of Canada, as well as in many U.S. states and many parts of Europe. Glen lives in Saskatoon with his wife, Sonia, who he claims is his "first and most enthusiastic reader and editor." Learn more about Glen here.
      
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Lori Levy:
So beautiful. I love all the color in this poem.
Posted 02/26/2024 01:48 PM
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Anastasia:
"its wind-bent cat-tail perch" - what an evocative phrase! Wonderful poem, Glen! Thank you!
Posted 02/26/2024 12:47 PM
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Judy:
Beautiful, Glen!
Posted 02/26/2024 11:53 AM
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Wilda Morris:
Yes! Stop and listen! Sadly, I have not seen a Baltimore Oriole for decades.
Posted 02/26/2024 11:33 AM
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Denise:
Bravo Glenn to your awakening of what is free to us all to enjoy. The beauty on any spring day that gratefully surrounds us should not be missed! I so loved your amazing descriptions. I can't wait to go outside this morning and enjoy what there is to experience.
Posted 02/26/2024 11:07 AM
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Sharon Waller Knutson:
Nothing like a visual uplifting poem to take us into spring. Favorite imagery: "A flash of orange and black
through sun-splattered aspen leaves,
the faintest glimpse of Baltimore Oriole;
or the brilliant scarlet shoulder sheen
as a Red-winged Blackbird warbles
from its wind-bent cat-tail perch"
Posted 02/26/2024 10:05 AM
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KinVT:
So beautiful. So true. Thank you.
Posted 02/26/2024 08:54 AM
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Larry Schug:
So apt, Glenn. The birds are beginning to sing and I saw swans flying over yesterday, their bellies lit by the rising sun. There is a nice blend of nature and philosophy and some Zen in this poem.
Posted 02/26/2024 07:54 AM
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