Adrianna Starr

Second Place: Poetry

“The Birds That Fly Past Us” 
by Adrianna Starr
12th grade, Morristown High School

—

Your aged finger pointed
at an idle bird
resting on the branch
of a stout tree.

“Chickadee,” you said.
I repeated.

Another bird flits by
“Downy Woodpecker,” you said.
I repeated.

Years had past
my failure to recall such species exasperated me
the table crammed
with untouched books of Vermont birds
you could’ve written.
I remember
the icicles
hugging the frosted windowsill

 Yet today,
“Cardinal,” your feeble voice cries out
 at the idle bird
 and the icicle on the windowsill 
 has softened.

“Chickadee,” I correct.
You repeat.
But there’s no point,
as the bird has already flown away.