New Eden
This time of day the birds
and road noise do battle.
Chimes join the soundtrack
and life takes on the likes
of an old DeMille epic
with a garden from central
casting: Garbo and Gable
stroll near the trees, stop
for a cigarette. Bogey flirts
with Bacall at the Hibiscus.
Earl Flynn beats the bad guys
with a cast of thousands.
Two hummingbirds shoot past
like bullets, one chasing the other.
Sugar water for all yet they take
turns, torment each other.
A Mockingbird competes
with quarrelsome sparrows
and the wounded sound
of doves floats against heaven.
My partner hammers near my nook
as if to design new sets,
and a small lizard stares at me
with its ancient, yellow eye.
—Shirley Rickett
This poem made me feel as though I was there, at the Alamo Watermelon Festival.
Living in San Antonio,I’ve been on that crossover many times. I can see this happening for sure. A vivid piece with fine imagery.