Written for dVerse Poets Quadrille Monday –
“Bird is the Word”. Our host, De Jackson,
has offered up the word “bird”.
Here is my quadrille.

Barely heavier than a thought,
the chickadee lands on a branch
and considers the cold morning
with black-capped certainty.
It does not wonder about winter.
It simply tucks the seed away
somewhere it will remember,
or perhaps
somewhere it will not…
and flies off.
NAR©2026
44 Words
This is “Chickadee” by Chuck Pyle
Everything on The Elephant’s Trunk was created by me, unless otherwise indicated. Thank you for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.

Beautiful poem, Nancy!
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much, Yvette. 🐦⬛
LikeLiked by 1 person
So lovely 🐣🐣🐣🥰🥰🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, CA. 🐦⬛
LikeLike
Beautifully crafted, to read with a firmness that underlines the description.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for such a lovely comment, Rosemary.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
One word sums it up beautifully. Thank you, Iris.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I especially loved that “black-capped certainty.” So good.
We got to hand-feed chickadees up in Lake Tahoe this past summer. So much personality in such a tiny bird!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, lucky you! They will come to my patio, but I have yet to hand-feed them. What a thrill! Thank you for your wonderful comments, De. I greatly appreciate them. 🐦⬛
LikeLike
A sweet poem for a sweet little bird.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for your lovely comments, Sherry. I love chickadees! 🐦⬛
LikeLike
What a beautiful way to describe a bird, Nancy, ‘barely heavier than a thought’! I love the image of it considering ‘the cold morning with black-capped certainty’.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your very lovely comments, Kim. We are fortunate to have a great number of different birds visiting our backyard. I especially love the chickadees; they are an endless source of entertainment. I’m happy to know you enjoyed my poem. 🐦⬛
LikeLiked by 1 person
We don’t have chickadees here, but they sound wonderful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are sweet little puff balls who aren’t afraid to hop onto our patio and nibble the bits of nuts I leave for them. They are charming.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They have short memories and peaceful lives
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds a bit like me these days! 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is ideal way to live, I think
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nancy, this is so observant.
I think “somewhere it will remember, / or perhaps / somewhere it will not…” captures the small mystery of instinct. Wonderful!
~David
LikeLiked by 1 person
Have you met a chickadee, David? They can be somewhat flighty …. no pun intended! 😂
Thank you for your very lovely comments, my friend. They are much appreciated. 🐦⬛
LikeLiked by 1 person
Only in YouTube videos!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful expression of the chicka-dee-dee-dee’s Springtime generosity!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Liz. That’s a sweet song, isn’t it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It truly is. Sweeter than the first robin, in my book!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sweet & Lovely! Sounds like an old song I used to sing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
chickadeelicious
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! And thanks so much for not mentioning Chick-fil-A! 😆
LikeLike
Oh, your lovely flighty words reminded me of a favorite line from one of Robert Okaji’s poems … “From every moment, a second emerges” … Robert Okaji
LikeLiked by 1 person
That really is a beautiful line, dear Ivor. I’m so pleased to know my poem resonated with you. Thank you 🥰 🐦⬛
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re most welcome my friend 📖🥰🌏🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
You certainly captured the chickadee!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, D! I love watching those little balls of fluff. 🐦⬛
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nance this is a lovely, evocative piece the essence of a chickadee -a bird known for being light yet incredibly resilient♥️
LikeLiked by 1 person
We reached 65°F yesterday and the birds wasted no time picking away at the back lawn. I tossed out some pieces of nuts onto the patio and the chickadees flew right in. I love those little guys! Thanks so much for your beautiful comments. ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
How lovely 💕💕💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
‘Barely heavier than a thought’ – love that 💞Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Suzanne, I gotta say …. that was divine inspiration! Thanks so much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely Quadrille and moment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for your comments, Cat!
LikeLike