By Don Ford
(Two crows sat noiseless in a tree
Refused in silence to compete)
One morning when I had awoke
And stepped outside to join the day
Greeted by melodious sounds
The birds of fall returned today
These songbirds had arrived quite early
I’d better get a move on
And I was joining them of late
Sort of missed their opening song
The chorus swelled as more joined in
Not one or two but dozens sing
All I saw were crows of winter
All I heard were birds of spring
Though snow lie all around us
So convinced were they in song
They never stop their chanting
They rang their anthems strong
If words be put to all their notes
Calling for the warm sun rays
“Melt away the long cold night
Of winters long enduring stay”
So amidst this cloud white stuff
Lay spread as blankets all around
We’re happy then to see it go
In silence melt into the ground
Listen well the chorus call
It’s time for all the snow to go
The birds keep singing from the trees
It’s time to view the flower show
The cold and dark of winter sleep
The bulbs of spring will start to climb
Their colors then will join in song
In mingled anthem so sublime
A royal time of new beginnings
The birds their songs had ushered in
We welcome spring with open arms
Up from the earth new life begins
Don Ford
Since graduation, I have been employed in numerous positions of Forestry and Surveying, making full use of classes I decided to take at Paul Smith’s. I chose Forestry, since I’ve always enjoyed the forest, and outdoor settings involving nature. To date, I’ve written 30 plus books, and they are all posted on Amazon under my name, Mr. Don G. Ford. If you knew how many Don Fords were posted there, you would see why I had to qualify which Don I was. LOL.
Above: Here is the snail picture that my 10-year-old Erin did for me. She knew I was doing pictures and poems at the time, and I needed a snail picture for a snail poem I had written. She said, “Dad, I can be your artist.” And when she produced this from a paint program, I was thrilled. “Yes, you can be my artist,” I said.