Alive in the Mississippi River Valley:

By Marge Barrett ● 2025

bald eagle rises, climbs, settles atop an immense nest; cormorant; peregrine falcon; murders of crow ride fearsome black sky waves; vulture circles; red-tailed hawk hangs out; red-headed woodpecker drills tree fort holes; hoo owl; coo dove; oriole; robin; pigeon; phoebe calls feeebee; kingfisher; kingbird rules realms; cardinal; blue jay; bluebird; yellow-bellied warbler teaches English sparrow to eat spider; dee-dee chickadee; goldfinch; tiny, got the moves hummingbird—

camouflaged quail; partridge; ruffed grouse; arresting pheasant; turkey; grass; sedge; shrub;  skink; water, garter, big bull snake coil in shed; snapping, painted turtle burrows eggs in sand; ant mound; beetle colony (ladybug); beehive; paper wasp comb; hornet nest; daddy longlegs; grasshopper; cicada; ch-ch  katydid; cricket; tick; aphid; flea; centipede; gnat; mosquito; firefly lights; damsel, dragonfly dance; moth (inchworm); butterfly (monarch); warty toad; frog leaps—
shrew; mouse; mole; vole; gopher; bat; rat; chipmunk; ground, flying squirrel occupy attic crawl space; groundhog chucks under steps; skunk sprays; rabbit; badger; weasel; opossum; raccoon scream-mates on deck, poops on outdoor stairs; porcupine shoots quills; fox, coyote stalk; white- tailed deer huddle; fisher, bobcat, cougar pounce; gray wolf; black, brown bear; big elk, moose—

pond; lake; river; falls; fern; reed; cattail; horsetail; mussel shell trails; minnow; bass; trout; muskie; walleye; pike; mink; otter den; beaver dam; muskrat lodge; great blue heron rests on one skinny leg; kids rescue trumpeter swan with a torn wing; gull; goose; pelican; osprey; egret; sandhill crane bugles; arty wood duck dabbles in water; dog swims after tremolo-calling loon—

lily; lady slipper; ginger; geranium; bloodroot; rose; iris; violet; daisy; phlox; poppy; chicory; aster; blazing star; milkweed; dandelion; goldenrod; cardinal flower; grape, black, blue, straw, rasp berry; spongy moss; mushroom (morel); algae bloom; fifty-three native trees; honeycrisp apple; quaking aspen; evergreen; maple; red, white pine; birch; bur oak; ash drops gold leaf—

you
—

me.

Marge Barrett graduated in 1968 with a BA in English from St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota, She has taught English in rural, urban, and suburban high schools, Stillwater Prison, and community and technical colleges. In 1976, she completed Master’s work in education at the University of Minnesota and administered the University’s Community Programs for its Extension Division. “I’ve always been a reader. When I was young, I often escaped household chores because my mother allowed me to sit in the big red chair in the living room and read. When I grew up, I taught literature. I’m not sure what prompted me to begin writing creatively.” She has edited art and literary magazines, and taught for many years at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She has always been inspired by the opportunity to help others discover their own way with words. Learn more about her at margebarrett.com.

Posted in: Poetry