Late January Magic Tricks - a Creek Side poem by Anne Selden Annab

 

       Late January Magic Tricks

After the snow

and an early morning

sunrise

at zero degrees-

Our frozen creek

and birdbath both

breathe steam...

Up where we are

momentarily

safe inside behind

the cold clean window

of our home

we are maybe inches away

from    suddenly      shimmering         bits

of      ice            crystals

that   are 

floating     on      cold     air

here  and    there

out    side   .  .  .  .  .   eye level

everywhere we look...

Like tiny sparkling gems

levitating & spinning &

randomly mirroring 

minuscule rainbows

to give us rapture.

 

                                       poem copyright ©2025 Anne Selden Annab

 

Maple Seeds in Spring

 

I long be out, totally outside right now-                out on our lawn this breezy May

out where the maple seeds spin and twirl and 

dance down- dropping 

where ever whim 

and breeze 

takes 

them.

 

Spring 

gusts 

set

one

two 

three

four

five

ten

twenty

fleets 

sailing

soaring

... some might land into saplings & trees

 

 

 

poem copyright ©2024 Anne Selden Annab

 

Engagement

          Engagement

Mid-March acrobatics

with blustery winds when

our dancing daffodils bloom,

many of our littlest finches 

do too.

Molting winter's camouflage

those tree branch beige shadows

and putty shades are replaced

As new feathers 

are brightening

lightening

into gold.

And the promise of more.

 

 

   poem & photo copyright ©2024 Anne Selden Annab

Connections

                 Connections       

The big white bird

with black wing tips*

was flying low

alone

away...

hours pass.

I read of fields and farms,

of migrations,

of hope

and dreams-

of hunger

and hard work.

By chance I look up

thinking- digesting

themes

to see

three big white birds

with black wing tips

flying low

in the opposite direction.

poem copyright ©2024 Anne Selden Annab

*Snow Goose

Almost Spring

 

        Almost Spring

Sycamore trees glow

in the dusk, 

gathering moonlight

(and star dust)

in their branches.

 

 

poem & photo copyright ©2024 Anne Selden Annab

 

 

Black Squirrel

      Black Squirrel

Black squirrel leaping out

and dashing -

in a world of gray

you are

exquisite depth

like an eye's pupil

widening in the dim

of winter lit woods.

 

 

                       poem copyright ©2023 Anne Selden Annab

Dear Randy St John - Pulling Us Into Understanding This And That

 A Poem for a Beloved Teacher 

                    by Anne Selden Yellott Annab

   Pulling Us Into Understanding This And That

Dear Randy St John,  

I liked you because you liked  teaching

and all your students- everyone of us, 

the bright the dull the difficult 

the awkward the shy the brazen

the clutzy the smooth

the spark of brilliance

in every one.

You were fair,

and funny

with your handlebar mustache.

You were also astounding

with your model gorgeous wife

(Cindy) who stayed with you

studied, became a librarian.

You two together were 

the best role models I knew

the best guides on how

to find and navigate books

and people... and life.

You both truly liked books

and shared your passion

pulling us into understanding this and that-

enjoying and exploring symbolism 

and metaphor and poetry

and other such stuff

like the power of words

and simplicity.

But you also liked sports-

and the great outdoors.

Hunting fishing

real life as it is:

The beauty

of fly fishing

on a creek.

                                                                         poem copyright ©2023 Anne Selden Annab