Feeding the birds

I have heard of ghosts.
I have heard ghosts.
I have heard I was a ghost. Or
maybe only that I was

becoming one. Feeding the birds,
I fill the empty cavity with seed.
The seed falls through. I tie a knot
in string and hang the house. The

knot falls through. And there
on the ground, the day / resting
no secret / the day resting / shattered
by my hands. The futility

of all things makes my hands
tremble. I imagine they are
disappearing. I am becoming a ghost.
My hands unable

to harness the seed - to tie
the knot - strong enough to hold /
the trembling world together

Author's Note

2020

Reviews

[Dave Brown]

Your title attracted me
I am not too well acquainted with the issues of ghosts and trembling worlds but I strongly relate to the bird, which I greatly appreciate in its many configurations.
Throughout the year we constantly feed and as a result have a huge number around even through the winter which consist mainly of little blackcaps, chickadees and the occasional thrush
Hope all is well and you are still much too young to become a ghost

[Eilis]

Hi, Dave. Thanks for stopping by. I have been better, but I’m not a ghost yet, you are right. We have always had problems with squirrels stealing bird food and have to find special feeders to keep them out. I just got my first feeder for the house we’ve lived in two years and have seen many lovely birds. It’s especially nice this time of year. Seeing their activity in the more somber months. We have a lovely troupe of cedar waxwings that are hanging around. Not sure if you have those where you are—they are migratory in my area—but they are one of my favorite birds to see. I hope you are well there. It sounds like you have many birds to keep you company which is always a good thing in my book. Thank you again.