Parlement of Foules

I have no recent bird photos for St. Valentine's Day, when the birds are said to choose their mates, only those of a recent sky on a very windy day, and the emerging daffodils in the yard. But the birds I saw this week included --

five turkeys eating carrion on Christ School Rd.

thirteen wild geese flying overhead towards Kenilworth Lake at sunset

a solitary crow ("One crow sorrow") over the tall pines by the driveway, fussing at someone

a towhee scratching in the leaves

goldfinches on the feeders

and a pair of shy cardinals on the ground.

Valentines

One of my blog muses began simply and has become, while still as interesting both verbally and visually, more intricate and extensive over the past years. Images especially, I was thinking, have become increasingly abstract and even edgy. Meanwhile, mine are icons of a romantic ideal of life. Maybe it's simply different sensibilities, but maybe the one is a better way to face life, less blind-eyed. But on Valentine's Day (late) it's fine to show lovely things.

The Valentines pictured above span six decades, more or less.

When you send a Valentine,

That's the time for fun;

Stick it underneath the door

And run, run, run.

That one's so satisfying to say. Here's another, a brief quotation from something still under copyright, Father Fox's Pennyrhymes, by Clyde and Wendy Watson:

Country Bumpkin

Pick a pumpkin

Put it in your heart:

For little Jenny

Half-a-penny

Valentine sweetheart.

Also from that lovely book is this, intended for the summer fair in its cycle of seasons, but appropriate for this day as well:

Huckleberry, gooseberry, raspberry pie

All sweetest things one cannot buy.

Peppermint candies are six for a penny,

But true love & kisses, one cannot buy any.

"Love's a sweet no money can buy." ~ Father Fox