I walk around the house in the summer twilight
opening windows
letting in the insect orchestra
katydids run scales in the tree tops
crickets, the violins of summer
carry the tune from tree and field and bush
an owl makes its first exploratory sounding
of the evening, three solitary hoots—no reply
the night rhythm begins
Warm August air pushes through the hammock
mosquitoes whine by my ankles
and through a hole in the canopy
I watch bats shadow puppet
against a column of darkening sky
I strain to catch the thread of each vibration
each pattern, rhythm, pitch
a unique life cycle
a specific niche filled
a gorgeous tapestry of sound
It’s carnival this time of year
no sooner has one reveler bowed out
than the next chorus crowds in from the wings
the belligerent rise and fall of the dog day cicadas
makes way for the ululations of the grey tree frogs
at high noon the meadow shimmered
with the stridulation of grasshoppers
and now young coyotes yip and howl
as they prowl the long grasses
Sunlight creeps into the garden once more
illuminating tomatoes tear-dropped with dew
songbirds and crows take to the stage
and under the stone in the wall
the constant cricket sings.
Melissa Shaw-Smith 
‘Stridulation’ is a beautiful word. Fit’s nicely in a beautiful poem.
Yes, sometimes you come across a word that makes you want to save it in a little treasure box. Thank you for your kind words, Jim.
Bravo for the symphony! Bravo, Melissa! 🙂
Difficult to do it justice. But thank you for reading.
beautiful! congratulations for the piece and best wishes! keep writing!
Thank you, Chitra.
You have a way with words — and way with that camera, too. I’ve just looked at the shot in huge (it expands very nicely with a click) and you could crop those tomatoes and water drops out to make a whole exhibition of stand-alone photos. Gorgeous~!
So glad you liked the piece.
Wow, beautiful Melissa!
Another masterpiece of rich and vibrant imagery transporting me into the very soul of this your experience. Thanks again Melissa!
Most kind! There is actually a sound link above the photo, which I think I didn’t make clear enough.
I was at that show! The coyotes were brilliant, but I couldn’t see them from the cheap seats… 🙂
What a beautiful time of year this is dear Melissa!
I love this-I can hear the sounds and imagine the bats as shadow puppets-but my favorite “crickets, the violins of summer” what a wonderful image that is-thank you Melissa!
Your are most welcome. Thank you for reading!
Reblogged this on Ripple Poetry and commented:
Melissa Shaw Smith, captures the magic of the garden.
Thank you. Thank you, Pearl!
Beautiful!!!! ❤
Thanks so much, Lynda.
I am going to make more time to read my favorites…<3
wonderful—both poem and picture. I’d like a bite of those tomatoes!
Thanks so much, Bernice.