The Hummingbird

The Hummingbird in Whittier’s Garden

Ruby-throated hummingbird

appears suddenly among

bright ruby-colored blossoms

in Whittier’s August garden

during annual reading -

darts swiftly from flowerlet

to flowerlet, thrusts its bill

down each tiny tube.

Listeners become observers,

words float unheard

into warm summer air.

Focus now on blurred wings

of tiny visitor, intent on

gathering sustenance, who takes

no notice of silent admirers and

disappears suddenly to seek

nectar from other flowers,

for poetry provides no purpose

in its petite world.

Lainie Senechal