Hummingbirds
This Hummingbirds poem was inspired from a poetry prompt by Courtenay Nold of Poetry Warrior. It reminded me of my aunt Judy who took me in when I was fifteen. I would have otherwise remained locked up in a juvenile detention center, gone into foster care, or who knows where.
Aunt Judy put up with a lot from me as I shared in my essay Wild Cherry and memoir Looking for Lucky, but she never gave up on me. She loved hummingbirds. I think of her every time I see one of those miraculous creatures.
Hummingbirds
I love that you collected hummingbirds.
Wind chimes, magnets, trinkets…
Grew a fragrant flower garden to attract them.
You even had those seemingly delicate birds
embroidered in your casket
to accompany you to the great beyond.
Now, I think of you every time I see a hummingbird,
A gentle reminder of your generous, forgiving, feisty spirit
and strength to fly despite the expectation to fall.
