A hummingbird of a girl –
iridescent and flittering
fueled by youth and hope
and that which buzzes alive
in those lucky enough
to fly
dive
hover
dart
in search of the 1000 flowers’ nectar
to be lapped up in a day.
Pools of cobalt blue-teal-cyan-turquoise sparkle
in feathers
and the sprightly polish
of toes peeking out
of plastic sandals
as the pony-tailed girl
flies up the hill
her mother pushing the stroller
making a more effortful ascent
several sidewalk squares behind.
When the sun went down
and sonorous breezes chilled the night
I swam in the radiant blue pools
of your brown eyes
sipped my fill of your sweet elixir
my wings and heart fluttering and quickening
before resting oh-so-briefly
in your blue-feathered offering.
Youth may wane,
hope too.
Only hope returns
protected during the death-like slumber
through the long, cold night’s sleep.
And when the flowers open to the sun
we awaken
run up hills
dance in sunbeam prisms
feel the slow darkening of a summer storm
taste the hand
extract the nectar.