meditating in the tea house

built in the almond tree

my eyes turn to the bananaquit

as it lands in the fur of cotton

trapped in the lemon tree

then flits to the top of the almond trees

lost among the thick pear-shaped leaves

not even its brilliant yellow-breasted

stomach can i see

but no time to ponder

its actions

lucia feeding the dogs below

attract my attention

as he bangs on the branch of the tree

to get powder’s attention

who raises its hind legs

to the branch and dances

all the while my chime

continues its ceaseless

sounding

tinkle   tinkle    tinkle

like a dervish dancer

caught in the frenzy of his own

swirling