Thursday, February 19, 2026

A Gathering of Poetry: February 2026

It’s the third Thursday of the month, which means it’s time for A Gathering of Poetry - welcome!

I found this photo on an external hard drive a while ago, but I have no idea who took it or where. But I did have a moment of serendipity when I came across a poem that seems to go with it. 

For the Bird Singing Before Dawn
by Kim Stafford  

Some people presume to be hopeful
when there is no evidence for hope,
to be happy when there is no cause.
Let me say now, I’m with them.

In deep darkness on a cold twig
in a dangerous world, one first
little fluff lets out a peep, a warble,
a song—and in a little while, behold:

the first glimmer comes, then a glow
filters through the misty trees,
then the bold sun rises, then
everyone starts bustling about.

And that first crazy optimist, can we
forgive her for thinking, dawn by dawn,
“Hey, I made that happen!
And oh, life is so fine.”

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Stafford, Kim. Originally published in Poem-a-Day on April 27, 2022, by the Academy of American Poets. 

You can read more about Kim Stafford here and here, too.  

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Thank you for reading and joining us for our monthly Gathering of Poetry. You are
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4 comments:

  1. A lovely poem accompanied by a lovely photo, what a way to start the day. Thank you, Bonny. I will sally forth and put my energies into being an optimist. It is merely a choice, and today I will make it.

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  2. This is really the perfect poem for right now, both in terms of the season and the current state of events in this world. I'm so glad you found it so you could share it with us.

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  3. Every single morning I am so profoundly thankful to those little birds. Because no matter what state the world is in, you can count on them to be the constant for good... thank you so much for sharing this today! I am saving this one!

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  4. I so love this poem. Life IS so fine. . . XO

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