Friend on a Winter Cruise.

Trees still, in hieroglyphics, stand like Chinese writings

Announcing warm spring’s swollen bud from out the bark-

 Maybe they once travelled and kept their native tongues.

 By them the kestrel dives down the mouse and

Heron stands past easy running russet fox.

Magpie flies with long lithe twig to bough

Where squirrel tucks her baby below her nut filled belly.

By my feet the snow drops drip and crocus throws his yellow head

 To open shed ,where tattered butterfly greets the cycle to live short season

 And start the day.

From gardens and fields and out across great seas fly birds and butterflies,

Buffeted by winds, showered by spray, mountain uplifts and jungle steam.

To foreign lands, greeted with delight by smiles, beady eyes,

 Bobbing flower heads,

 Great shiny leaves, sheltering all from tropical storm.

In the English thinking race, where rose’s open treasured face,

 And jewelled pollen, beats the very heart;

Where insects repose in heady scent and then depart.

Around the world the stormy seas and gales that rock the gentle calm

Toss life’s troubles fresh upon the foam

Where whales sail deep.

To my home, eye -catching , it flies in quavers,

 Music upon the hum of life’s engine room.

With delight its back and will return again,

 Far exploring butterfly.