Birch Bay:

Brant
Surf Scoters
Common Loon
Red- Breasted Merganser
Harlequin Duck
Glaucous Gulls
Bufflehead
Barrow's Goldeneye
Common Goldeneye
Bald Eagle

among others

January and Everything Blooms Early

The lawn has turned to moss, daffodils

bow yellow crowned heads.

My mother cuts a forsythia branch and

the buds open in warm water.

Last year, on Valentine’s Day,

I uncovered the first primroses,

showed you the tight furl of their purple

petals. Look at what is to come.

This year, even the cherry trees

have attired themselves early in pale

pink garments. Tomorrow I might

wake to the smell of lilacs or cold rain.

All the patterns I have come to learn

surprise me eventually.

Yesterday I thought of leaving you,

today I could not wake without you.

This time last year we had a foot of snow,

this year we have none.

My heart surrenders any planned course,

from now on I will either be late or early.