Favor of Crows
Page 5
sway of memory
morning frost
remains in the hoary boughs
scent of cedar
early october
white moths in the paper birch
stack of firewood
lake itasca
red squirrels bark in the pine
twilight stories
autumn sunset
great blue herons stand alone
change of colors
wet leaves
slither over the window panes
blurry trees
empty swings
move slowly in the wind
cold shadows
picnic bench
sparrows gather for the crumbs
light snow
cedar waxwings
overnight near the bower
depart at dawn
cold morning
sound of a downy woodpecker
breaks the silence
sunset beams
shimmer in the great red pine
shadow dance
birch leaves
brighten the new gravestones
cold october
sundogs
break over the meadow
fugitive light
empty wren house
hanging in a fruit tree
squeaks overnight
windy morning
heavy clouds over leech lake
crows on the dock
red sumac
bright in the autumn sunset
evening grosbeak
cold rain
brightens the black metal gate
morning mail
windy shoreline
blackbirds rebound in the cattails
fur trade routes
brown ants
parade around the rain pools
leaves afloat
field mouse
scurries in a ceiling light
risky nest
red squirrels
capture the short maple tree
almost bare
aspen leaves
winded over the meadow
gather at the door
blue faces
reflected with the whole moon
cold river
merry child
collects the brightest leaves
red bucket
october moon
rises in the lace curtains
silver petite fleur
silent juncos
alight in a small bare tree
spring memory
cold night
leaves skate over the thin ice
afloat in daylight
rain and sleet
children hunched at the bus stop
yellow boots
bold crows
march over the park benches
first light snow
loyal mongrels
lead the children to school
early lessons
autumn ghosts
hover in the norway pine
vanish at dawn
beach crows
wait for the old fisherman
remains of the catch
black flies
wait for the warm sunrise
last autumn flights
river stones
sparkle under the thin ice
ancient bridge
lily pads
wave in an icy wind
frozen overnight
cold rain
field mice rattle the dishes
buson’s koto
texas cotton
caught in the roadside stubble
december flowers
first snow
squirrels tied the trees together
double bows
mountain snow
warblers search for apricots
no regrets
scruffy bird nests
covered overnight with snow
dream songs
tiny tracks
circle the icy boulders
trickle of water
wispy clouds
display the sunset hues
winter light
narrow path
curves with the slant of snow
chimney smoke
rosy sunset
chases a child in the snow
giant shadows
light snow
bird tracks under a pine tree
white cat
city sparrows
chatter under the eaves
strong wind
school children
captains of the window ice
sail on the sunlight
white spruce
crows loosen the first snow
sunrise spectacle
white birch
moody shadows in the snow
grave houses
red squirrel
barks on bare birch bough
timber wolves
wet snow
covers one side of the trees
face the wind
thin clouds
stretch across the night sky
tease the moon
snow caves
reach over the river bank
melt away
northern lights
great circles on the ice
moonlight skaters
willow leaves
frozen in the clear ice
mock the season
gray sparrows
gather around the brown crusts
frozen overnight
wooden ladder
crowned overnight with wet snow
stands alone
final leaves
tumble with the children
heavy snow
blue jays
drink from the watery names
warm gravestones
sudden storm
geraniums in the window
wait to be turned
catalpa pods
rattle in the bitter wind
snowbound
mongrels
circle the very same trees
traces in the snow
red sumac
bounce in the gusts of snow
lost leaves
woman in the park
feeds the moody pigeons
lends an ear
tick of snow
crickets chirp in a flower pot
nightly aria
daily newspapers
stacked under the window
elevates the cat
stubborn cattails
burst in a cold gust of wind
lost mittens
gray squirrels
bounce between the bare trees
mounds of snow
garden chairs
plushy cushions overnight
heavy snow
black cats
hiss each other in the snow
no place to hide
park bench
covered with mounds of snow
giants for a day
shoreline pine
shaped by the steady wind
lean away
shiny ravens
bounce in the heavy snow
shadow dance
break in the ice
sun shimmers on the water
geese alight
ornamental tree
crouches under the window
snowy boughs
white birch
stacked near the summer house
mouse parade
brown ants
three stories high in a urinal
delay the flush
plastic flowers
decorate the old gravestones
familiar names
calico house cat
chatters at the window
bird feeder
neon diner
blinks near an empty warehouse
drifted snow
moonlight
great chorus of timber wolv
es
dinner stories
heavy snow
soldiers gather at the grave
sound of a bugle
crusted snow
morning browse out of reach
deer at the window
evening grosbeak
crowd around the bird feeder
snowbound
crowns of snow
decorate the pinyon boughs
overnight reign
aspen shiver
crows perch on a lawn chair
morning storm
noisy sparrows
flutter over the birdbath
clear the snow
cocky crows
bounce on a giant snowman
withers in sunlight
white birch
leans over the frozen creek
ready to cross
winter sunrise
birds on the bakery marquee
scent of scones
giant icicles
crash outside the window
early equinox
cherry tree
shadows entwined in the snow
crows arrive
pinyons
shoulder mounds of wet snow
desert favors
cold night
skaters on a moonlit lake
break the silence
mountain creek
trickles around the stones
sounds of spring
gray juncos
return for spring rehearsals
early concert
snowflakes
alight in a cup of tea
temple stories
cold morning
puffy birds at the windows
close to home
winter rain
glazes the red sumac
shiny browse
bright moon
shimmers in the rose window
seams icey
family diner
outlasts the railroad station
scent of cinnamon
timber wolves
raise their voices overnight
trickster stories
gray squirrel
chatters over the birdfeeder
out of reach
old man
preens at the slushy bus stop
shiny black boots
river beaver
break the ice overnight
birch afloat
ocean storm
ravens ride the monterey pine
out of breath
chunks of snow
tumble through the cedar boughs
change of season
overnight thaw
stench of buried dog shit
close to home
flower garden
buried in heavy snow
sway of memory
red squirrel
chatters on a broken bough
snow crowns
lake itasca
source of the great river
buried in snow
white earth
memories of the last storm
scent of cedar
first cardinals
bounce in the gray withered trees
trace of daffodils
waves of snow
decorate a wooden fence
squirrel routes
snow crusts
final traces of winter
praise the totems
raucous crows
circle the moored ice houses
nightly stories
white tail deer
reach higher for the browse
crusted snow
grand marais
old fur traders tease the fire
survivance stories
snowy mountain
green traces of aspen leaves
spring overnight
winter ends
one morning in a warm rain
crocus count
Gerald Vizenor is a prolific writer and literary critic, and a citizen of the White Earth Nation of the Anishinaabeg in Minnesota. He is Professor Emeritus of American Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. Vizenor is the author of several novels, books of poetry, and critical studies of Native American culture, identity, politics, and literature.