In and Out

two chickadees burn
a path through air

from the feeder suspended
on its frozen pole, cloaked

in shade, to bare twigs
of dogwood, doused

with sun.  back and forth.
taking turns. or is there

just one bird, tethered
to hunger?  plunging

each time into darkness
then winging back

to light where it cracks
and chews and prepares

for the next descent.

Tracy Youngblom

’s most recent publications include a chapbook (Driving to Heaven, 2010), and a full length poetry collection (Growing Big, 2013). Individual poems, stories, and book reviews have also appeared in journals including Shenandoah, Wallace Stevens Journal, New York Quarterly, Cortland Review, New Hibernia Review, Ruminate, Dogwood, Briar Cliff Review, Cumberland River Review, and others. She was a Finalist for the Loft-McKnight Awards in poetry in 2014, as well as a former Pushcart nominee.

Contributions by Tracy Youngblom