Carol A. Hand
“Rat-a-tat—Rat-a-tat”
rings through the air
from the pileated woodpecker
perched atop the power pole
hammering
A shrill cry follows
“kuk-kuk-kuk-kuk-kuk”
“Caw-Caw-Caw” echoes in reply
from a neighboring tree
as a lone crow
adds greetings
on this snowy morning
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Photo by Felicia Johnson (Wikipedia)
The photo I wish I could have taken, but alas, I didn’t have my camera until after the moment passed…
*
Voices from the Margins 
Love it! 🙂 Have a great week, Carol! xo
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Thank you so much, Bette. Wishing you a wonderful week as well. ❤
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The birds don’t care about the weather, they have a job to do, bring in spring so they can nest and have babies. The show must go on!
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So true, Sha’Tara. Although I confess that the first time I read your last sentence, I saw “the SNOW must go on (and it has…) 🙂
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Thank you for this lovely poetry and heartwarming photograph, we are blessed thanks to you ❤️❤️❤️
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Thank you so much for your kind and lovely comments, Saadia. Sending hugs and best wishes. ❤
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So engaging, we don’t have woodpeckers, so glad to see one here, amazing snow.
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Thank you for your always thoughtful comments, Paul, and your patience for awaiting my belated reply. We are still getting snow here! Sending my best wishes. 🙂
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I am uncertain about your weather, I’m assuming snow now is a bit late?
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I live in northern Minnesota, kind of mid-continent, on the western shore of Lake Superior. Colder air often moves down the middle of the continent from Canada just to the north, so it is often cooler here, even in summer. That being said, though, it’s hard to predict the arrival of spring, but often there are freeze warnings here until mid-June. Winter does feel long, especially this year, because of the brutal cold and so many dark days. More snow is predicted for later this week, but the snow that fell last night has already melted. Only time will tell when gardens can once again be planted…
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Wow, that makes a potential 6 – 7 month cold period. Ours varies too. Traditionally, autumn starts in mid March, and winter in June. But often June remains autumnal. And the rains come at the end of June and generally finish in early spring – September. Hope it warms up for you.
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Thank you, Paul. It is interesting to learn about weather in other parts of the world. We have had some warm days (30 to 40 F, -1 to 4 C), but hard freezes at night.
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I find that amazing, such a contrast, thank you too Carol for taking time.
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Hello Carol, this is lovely and paralleled here in the UK when I go out walking with my little dog Alf. I love the woodpecker sound. xx
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Thank you for your lovely comments. Nelly. The calls of woodpeckers are stunning, aren’t they? (I hope you share a photo of Alf some day. )
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We lover piliateds! They are so ancient! and noisy!
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Ah, so true, Michael. Their hammering resounds, as does their astounding song!
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we usually get one every March or so… now even my 5-year old son is attuned to listening for pleasing woodpecker racket 🙂
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Thank you so much for sharing such lovely comments about your son’s appreciation of woodpeckers, Robert. (Please forgive my belated reply.) 🙂
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Well, it’s just like always thought, winter weather is for the birds!;-)
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🙂
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I had to check to see what I had written, and with a typo no less!;-)
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🙂
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Beautiful! Thanks Carol I loved it!
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Dear Hector, thank you so much for your thoughtful comments. Sending my best wishes to you. ❤
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I have never yet been privileged to see a woodpecker, although I have heard one. Lovely words, Spring is almost here 🙏🏻
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Dear Chris, thank you so much for your always lovely comments. I hope your spring weather is a little more predictable and gentler than ours. ❤
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I love all birds, but crows have a special place in my heart.
Great post. 🙂
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Thank you for your thoughtful comments, A Shift in Consciousness. Sending my best wishes. 🙂
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