I had a morning eye doctor’s appointment earlier this week. And I had some time to kill before the dilation drops rendered my eyes useless for the rest of the day. After getting off the bus at Washington Street near City Hall, I cut across Montgomery Street while making my way to Presidential Plaza.

St. Paul’s Church. Photo by Francis DiClemente.

Brick wall with ivy. Photo by Francis DiClemente.

Along the way, I snapped a few photos with my antiquated, battery-challenged iPhone 8, jotted down a quick poem about some feathered denizens of the Salt City, and captured a moment of tranquility on a sunny morning downtown.

I felt grateful for the opportunity to capture a myriad of sights and sounds the universe sent my way. It was another reminder to always pay attention to my surroundings and be on the lookout for creative inspiration. Here’s the poem I wrote. It required significant revision as it made the transition from my pocket notebook to my computer.

Bird Chatter

Three pigeons
perched on a wire.

What are they
talking about
on this bright,
sunny morning?

But their conversation
is restricted—not for
human interpretation.

And the chatter ends
when the birds
lift from the wire,
taking off in formation,

flapping their wings,
and sending feathers
twirling to the ground.