Interactions
There is a sparkle
an early morning shimmer
on the creek
but only at certain angles
when the risen sun
catches texture
and stays
while the current
takes a separate set
of scintillating
downstream.
poem copyright ©2025 Anne Selden Annab
Investigations
In last night's dusk as day twinkled away
into the star light of lightening bugs
I watched. Suddenly, low to the ground
an unexpected shadow took shape...
I thought at first a small cat BUT not a cat,
investigating our garden path, a creature-
a smallish being, a humped darker earth
brown waddle with a wide flat tail.
Slowly moving, hesitating, not sure
a muskrat or beaver, not a badger or mink
or opossum, probing here in our backyard
on the brink of the creek... I had to research
to be sure, to look it up by day light and here
I am this morning- knowing that what I saw was
a kit, a beaver kit! It was and will always be the
size shape outline and movement of a small young
beaver exploring- looking perhaps for twigs to chew, or herbs to taste... and memories to keep.
poem copyright ©2025 Anne Selden Annab
Lampyridae
There are only a few fireflies-
star sparks - lightening bugs-
this early summer’s eve in my sixties.
Decades ago, twilit lawns
would fill with children
running to catch the magic
in their hands. I was one once
carefully cradling the glow
and then letting it go.
Almost every language on earth
seems to have a word for these winged
lamps from antiquity, the Lampyridae, glow worms,
beetles
with numerous species and flash patterns,
some synchronized
some not. But all enchanting…
hotaru*
luciole*
ildflue*
Glimworm*
koukouy*
blysbjalla*
kunang-kunang*
lucciola*
ildflue*
swietlik*
pirilampo*
licurici*
lagomu afi*
svetluska*
luciernaga*
lysmask*
kipeperushi*
Te mau nota*
Pryf tan*
*Japanese
*French
*Danish
*Dutch
*Haitian Creole
*Icelandic
*Indonesian
*Italian
*Norwegian
*Polish
*Portugese
*Romanian
*Samoan
*Slovak
*Spanish
*Swedish
*Swahili
*Tahitian
*Welsh
poem & photo copyright ©2025 Anne Selden Annab
Equality
I caught you kissing
in that beautiful bower
of the Redbud's pink blossoms
one day. The next day
it was under a profusion
of bright daffodils.
Random moments
here then there
stealing kisses
as Spring flowers bloom
and bounce on zephyrs
heaven sent.
poem & photo copyright ©2025 Anne Selden Annab
Accoutre
Pink and gold blossoming
from branch to branch-
Bush and tree bloom
the earth does too- brown into
green into gold and pink
as life comes back
surging and shimmering
like a silk kimono.
A Great White
Egret catches my eye
gliding past.
poem & photo copyright ©2025 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
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
