photo by Amanda Delsohn
My mother was a hummingbird.
Taking quick sips of coffee,
gesturing with child-size hands,
punctuating sentences with drags of an ever -present cigarette,
she darted in and out,
her thoughts flying past so quickly,
they’d disappear before you could grab one.
High strung, nervous was how slow minds
with lumbering bodies described her.
And all the while her wings danced circles around them
leaving behind microscopic feathers for calling cards.
I sense her sometimes now
as she darts into my atmosphere,
vibrating at the speed of light,
a different species on an alternate plane.
She hovers near me,
I reach out and hold her tiny body in my hand,
her speeding heart stills,
and we rest in each other.
Linda Townsdin 
Wow! So powerful!
Hi June! Thanks for the comment. It means a lot coming from such a wonderful poet. I love “So Sweet Against Your Teeth.”
Beautiful! Truly lovely! What an image–fluttering, dragging on a cig. Wow!
Thank you! I’m so glad you liked it.
Gorgeous use of this metaphor. And so perfect. What a Mother’s Day gift! Thank you!
Hi Julie! Thank you! And thank you for all the brilliant poems you’ve written and showed me over the years.
What a beautiful poem, Linda! And your daughter’s hummingbird picture is the perfect illustration.
Beautiful poem
Love this, Linda! And I’m so honored to know that you drafted this in our writing group! The only thing better than hearing you read it (and you do read it beautifully) is seeing it on the page. It’s perfect!
Thanks, Jan! Your group is an inspiring place to write. 🙂
I really enjoyed this. Wonderful imagery, light and lively rhythm, and a beautiful mixture of nostalgia, reverence and the mystical.
Wow, thank you for your thoughtful comment! I’m so glad you liked it.
Oh, how beautiful! I miss hearing you read. Sending warm wishes from London.
Hi Shelley! Thanks and happy hiking!
Powerful imagery!