Bonnie J. Scherer
A Turn of Events
Coyote Gardens in Willow, Alaska draws visitors at the peak of every summer. A homestead designed and tended by two masterful gardeners, the lush variety of plants and wildlife never fails to delight.
Today I venture deep into the garden along a dirt path that leads to a small pond. Overgrown with tall willows and alders, the pathway is laced with perennials I do not recognize.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a bird calls to me. Not recognizing the song, I’m lured by its sweetness. My eyes dart into tree tops hoping to catch a glimpse. So many places this bird could hide. If only my husband were here at this moment, I’m sure he’d spot the bird and know it by name. But he wandered off soon after we started this stroll.
I continue toward a bend in the trail. Treading softly so as not to flush the bird, I stop every now and then to listen. As if on cue, the bird chirps in these exact moments. Rounding the corner, I spot a gazebo just ahead. Squinting through dappled sunlight, I see a bench.
flashing its wings
a mockingbird
calls to its mate...
laughter rising above
his cellphone ringtone
About the Author
A resident of Alaska since 1981, Bonnie J Scherer originally hales from Wisconsin. Writing for several years now, she finds Alaska’s bleak winter months challenging yet stimulating in capturing the light in poetry. It has been her honor to have haiga, haiku, senryu, tanka, haibun, and more published in venues and platforms throughout the world. Cheers to the light!