Poetry

We are in the middle of our Environmental Literature class, which I will write about more next week. I’ve been inspired by the readings, especially the poetry! It has been a while since I have had a regular practice of writing poems, but over the course of the past few months I have been attempting them again.

This week, I am sharing with you my most recent poem. I wrote the first draft in North Carolina, the second in Texas, and the latest in New Mexico as I travelled with family. And here I am now in NZ, finally posting it! As I do so, I am noticing the parallels in the journey of the poem and myself. I hope that this inspires you in some way, whether is is with a passion for the specific subjects of the poem or a chance to reflect on what you love about the beings around you.

Dove Dreams

Today I awoke as a dove.

What kind? You may wonder

of the 351 species worldwide

I could be any of these creatures

I could be a Rock Pigeon

nesting high on a building ledge

waiting patiently to change

places with my mate

I could be a Mourning Dove

perching on the wooden gate

to a community garden

before feeding in straw mulched rows

I could be a White-Tipped Dove

drinking steadily from the Rio Grande

alongside thirsty cattle and

an idling border patrol car

I could be any of these

feathered beings with their

gentle coos, wing whistles

and rounded bodies

I feel a kin to them,

with their underrated beauty

and love of seed, fruit, water,

air, sun, and shade

I envy their fine-tuned

navigational skills, and their

ability to hold boundaries

with an up-raised wing

I could be any of these creatures

Or

I could be one specific

body, choosing to wake

each day and be who I am

where I am.