No One and Everyone
(On Bear Island)

by Melanie Choukas-Bradley

 
At dawn there is no one
At evening everyone
 
At dawn the kingfisher
Chattering over the water
 
At evening the human
Walkers chattering
 
I love the everyones
Not as much as the no ones


* * * * *
 
Melanie Choukas-Bradley is a naturalist and award-winning author of seven nature books, including City of Trees, A Year in Rock Creek Park, Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island and The Joy of Forest Bathing. She began writing poetry during the pandemic and had the good fortune to discover Beate Sigriddaughter’s Writing in a Woman’s Voice. The site has featured several of her poems, including “How to Silence a Woman,” and “If I have loved you,” both of which won Moon Prizes. Her poetry has also appeared in New Verse News.