Vox Populi
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Gerry LaFemina: Spring Redux
Every bird’s got perfect pitch
they remind me again,
even that bitchy blue jay
on the high branches of the apple tree.
They remind me again
how spring is full of lushness & heartache.
On the high branches of the apple tree
the buds open, white flowering—
thus spring is full of lushness & heartache.
Despite the gathering front
the buds open, white flowering,
such delicacy an act of defiance
against the gathering front.
Robins nest in the pear tree,
such delicacy an act of defiance
against this small town’s sprawl.
Robins nest in the pear tree.
Despot squirrels raid the feeders.
Against this small town’s sprawl
my back yard provides sanctuary
despite squirrels that raid the feeders.
Even for that bitchy blue jay
my back yard provides sanctuary.
Every bird’s got perfect pitch.
~~~
Gerry LaFemina is a poet, writer and musician who teaches at Frostburg State University.
Copyright 2025 Gerry LaFemina
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It’s pantoum season! Just love that “bitchy blue jay” and this poem.
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🐝🌱🪶🐿️💦🌳♥️
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Two pantoums in as many days — thank you, Michael, what a pleasure — and Gerry’s “Spring Redux” is so full of energy and tone and fabulousness, despite the gathering front, the despot squirrel, and the bitchy blue jay — whose 3rd cousin twice removed lives in my very own hedge now, by the way…Them is loud, I tell ya!
Thanks, dear Gerry!
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Another pantoum! Lovely
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Yes, pantoums seem to be in fashion these days.
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i like this poem very much! Its terms carefully construed in birdspring evocation! So nice to hear from you Gerry!
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As I said to Jan Beatty when we heard Gerry read at AWP a few years ago, “He really is brilliant, isn’t he?”
Jan nodded and said, “He really is.”
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Thanks for marrying the pantoum form to the call of the bitchy blue jay.
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A marriage of true minds!
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Thanks for the pleasure of this poem.
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Thanks, Van. I love this poem as well.
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