Thoreau’s Concert

 

 

Who started the chorus?

Or organized the orchestra?

Backstage, I can hear

the tuning of American goldfinch,

black-capped chickadee, downy woodpecker,

blue jay, American robin, gray catbird.

 

Who is the conductor?

The first violinist?

It all begins with the bow of concertmaster.

From which corner?

While I try to decipher,

a duet radiates out,

featuring blue jay and gray catbird.

Where are you? I am here?

Can’t you see?

I will sing it louder so you can hear.

 

Carolina wren cut in,

changes the rhythm

with her flute-like staccato.

It inspires blue jay

to abandon her duet to follow the wren.

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No rules,

an open forum with an open mic.

Tufted titmouse intermittently

jumps in during the intermission,

wood thrush chants his support,

American crow in the distance,

expressing dubious opinion.

No, no set scroll;

chorus, orchestra, no, no.

 

Now, northern cardinal breaks her silence,

so does indigo bunting.

 

It all started yesterday.

A baby chipping sparrow,

hopping to invite peers to come by this morning

and join Thoreau’s concert:

“infinite expectation of the dawn.”*

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*From “Walden,” a book by Henry David Thoreau.