Audubon's Flute by Robert Morgan (Planet Poem)

Audubon's Flute

Audubon in the summer woods

by the afternoon river sips

his flute, his fingers swimming on

the silver as silver notes pour

by the afternoon river, sips

and fills the mosquito-note air

with silver as silver notes pour

two hundred miles from any wall.

And fills the mosquito-note air

as deer and herons pause, listen,

two hundred miles from any wall,

and sunset plays the stops of river.

As deer and herons pause, listen,

the silver pipe sings on his tongue

and sunset plays the stops of river,

his breath modeling a melody

the silver pipe sings on his tongue,

coloring the trees and canebrakes,

his breath modeling a melody

over calamus and brush country,

coloring the trees and canebrakes

to the horizon and beyond,

over calamus and brush country

where the whitest moon is rising

to the horizon and beyond

his flute, his fingers swimming on

where the whitest moon is rising.

Audubon in the summer woods.

by: Robert Morgan