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On my morning walk, I stopped to talk to a new-to-me neighbor. She’s lived in her house for a long time, but my route recently changed. I met her, but she already knows a good bit about me. (Small town)
We talked about my new board book (coming Tuesday), her new great granddaughter she wants a signed copy for, sound frequency healing, and gardens. She told me, “Did you know that the sound of the birds singing in the morning actually makes the plants open up and grow?”
As I continued my walk, I turned off my book on tape and turned on the Merlin app amazed by the number of birds around me. I spoke a poem into my notes app.
The Dawn Chorus
The songs of the birds wake my winter mind: sparrow, wren, small and mighty in their announcement of spring. A tickle of rain, a wave from morning fleabane Two turtles bobbing on a log Stamens seem to say, “Welcome! Welcome to this day!”
What a lovely way to welcome the day! And you now have me thinking… more about sound frequency healing and a new name (to me) of a familiar “friend” (fleabane). Thank you!
I had to Google to get the wildflower name and it wanted to be in the poem. I need to know more about sound frequency healing. New idea to me, even though I have done a few sound baths. She told me that sound baths are the tip of the blade of grass.
Interestingly where I live now, I do not hear birds in the morning. Back home in Ghana it is the bird song that wakes us up. It’s only when I went back that I realized this vivid difference. I can relate to your poem: “The songs of the birds wake my winter mind:”
WOW!! So glad I read this today. I can’t wait to order your Board Book for my granddaughters! I love how you shared your process in this Slice – a chat while walking first to a book. Then turned it off to use the Merlin app (which I love how it IDs the birds by their sound – magical! Then you voice recorded your poem. What a 21st century example of your literacy life. From board board publishing to observing nature with assistance from an app to writing as you walk. And your neighbor’s comment – is that true?!! Nature is so amazing!
That is gorgeous, and I love how you took a different route and met a new but long-time neighbor. Congratulations on the board book. I’ve seen the cover and it is adorable! I am looking up fleabane. It looks like it is a small daisy, like flower. Just the kind that would wave to you on a morning walk!
Margaret, congratulations on another book! Way to go! What is it about and will it be on Amazon? I have your duck book on my Amazon list. My in-laws always buy me a gift certificate to Amazon to buy books! I enjoy writing poems in my head as I walk, also. I love your poem. I have tall wild fleabane in my garden. Some are a white color and some look like a faded pink. Beware if you put them in your garden because the seeds can spread all over quickly. I only allow a certain amount to grow in my garden, which I do with milkweed, too. I especially like all the action images in your poem: songs of the birds, their announcement of spring, tickle of rain, waving fleabane, and bobbing turtles.
I have always loved sounds in nature that are relaxing/healing to me: my cats purring, bird songs, tree frogs trilling at dusk, rain, thunderstorms, ocean or lake waves, a trickling stream, wolves or coyotes howling, loons making this haunting sound that echoes across a lake…
The Sound Medicine Academy explains sound healing or vibrational healing – “In its simplest form, sound healing is the therapeutic use of sound frequencies and vibrations to promote physical, emotional, and energetic balance.” Sound healing has been around for 1,000 of years. The Sound Medicine Academy explains about the history of sound healing and the science of it. They even mention about plants as medicine
Sound Medicine Academy.com
What Is Sound Healing? A Beginner’s Guide to Vibrational Wellness May 28th, 2025.
I found it very interesting reading. I know someone that is a sound therapist. She plays her cello and uses singing bowls and some other instruments. She went to college to become a sound therapist. I have been wanting to research more about it and go to one of her therapies. Therefore, that’s why I took the liberty of looking more into it and letting you know.
Months ago, I found a farm online that has a little honeybee house where you sit on the side of an active hive to listen to vibrations and frequencies that the bees make which is healing. I just read that honeybees beat their wings 200 times/second, which makes their “buzz” sound! That is so cool. Thank you for the inspiration! I hope you don’t mind that I wrote so much.
Margaret, beautiful post. This “A tickle of rain” just made me smile. It seems such a perfect addition to the chorus. I love the title, and I’m excited to learn more about your book on Tuesday.
Margaret Simon lives on the Bayou Teche in New Iberia, Louisiana. She is a retired elementary gifted teacher who writes poetry and children's books. Welcome to a space of peace, poetry, and personal reflection. Walk in kindness.
Reflections on the Teche 
Birds and blossoms make spring come true.
What a lovely way to welcome the day! And you now have me thinking… more about sound frequency healing and a new name (to me) of a familiar “friend” (fleabane). Thank you!
I had to Google to get the wildflower name and it wanted to be in the poem. I need to know more about sound frequency healing. New idea to me, even though I have done a few sound baths. She told me that sound baths are the tip of the blade of grass.
I love the poem.
Interestingly where I live now, I do not hear birds in the morning. Back home in Ghana it is the bird song that wakes us up. It’s only when I went back that I realized this vivid difference. I can relate to your poem: “The songs of the birds wake my winter mind:”
Vivid difference I’m sure! I can’t imagine a life without birdsong.
MS, I’ve been enjoying your daily posts! Hey Jeff! Peace n love, Jim
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Thanks for being a dedicated reader.
I want a signed copy of your board book as well! Will Books Along the Teche have it or are you selling them out of your trunk?
Get Outlook for iOShttps://aka.ms/o0ukef ________________________________
I will have a signing there on April 18. And I’m sure I will carry them in my trunk as well.
I love the line “A tickle of rain.” Your poem captures the signs of spring beautifully!
I read a poem aloud to kinder students, and their favorite word was tickle, so I borrowed it. So well described the little soft rain of the morning.
WOW!! So glad I read this today. I can’t wait to order your Board Book for my granddaughters! I love how you shared your process in this Slice – a chat while walking first to a book. Then turned it off to use the Merlin app (which I love how it IDs the birds by their sound – magical! Then you voice recorded your poem. What a 21st century example of your literacy life. From board board publishing to observing nature with assistance from an app to writing as you walk. And your neighbor’s comment – is that true?!! Nature is so amazing!
I did ask Google about the bird sounds and it is true! Nature is amazing!
That is gorgeous, and I love how you took a different route and met a new but long-time neighbor. Congratulations on the board book. I’ve seen the cover and it is adorable! I am looking up fleabane. It looks like it is a small daisy, like flower. Just the kind that would wave to you on a morning walk!
Funny how I had trouble getting the photo into the post because it was “live” and literally waving. Thanks for reading.
Margaret, congratulations on another book! Way to go! What is it about and will it be on Amazon? I have your duck book on my Amazon list. My in-laws always buy me a gift certificate to Amazon to buy books! I enjoy writing poems in my head as I walk, also. I love your poem. I have tall wild fleabane in my garden. Some are a white color and some look like a faded pink. Beware if you put them in your garden because the seeds can spread all over quickly. I only allow a certain amount to grow in my garden, which I do with milkweed, too. I especially like all the action images in your poem: songs of the birds, their announcement of spring, tickle of rain, waving fleabane, and bobbing turtles.
I have always loved sounds in nature that are relaxing/healing to me: my cats purring, bird songs, tree frogs trilling at dusk, rain, thunderstorms, ocean or lake waves, a trickling stream, wolves or coyotes howling, loons making this haunting sound that echoes across a lake…
The Sound Medicine Academy explains sound healing or vibrational healing – “In its simplest form, sound healing is the therapeutic use of sound frequencies and vibrations to promote physical, emotional, and energetic balance.” Sound healing has been around for 1,000 of years. The Sound Medicine Academy explains about the history of sound healing and the science of it. They even mention about plants as medicine
Sound Medicine Academy.com
What Is Sound Healing? A Beginner’s Guide to Vibrational Wellness May 28th, 2025.
I found it very interesting reading. I know someone that is a sound therapist. She plays her cello and uses singing bowls and some other instruments. She went to college to become a sound therapist. I have been wanting to research more about it and go to one of her therapies. Therefore, that’s why I took the liberty of looking more into it and letting you know.
Months ago, I found a farm online that has a little honeybee house where you sit on the side of an active hive to listen to vibrations and frequencies that the bees make which is healing. I just read that honeybees beat their wings 200 times/second, which makes their “buzz” sound! That is so cool. Thank you for the inspiration! I hope you don’t mind that I wrote so much.
I always appreciate your in depth comments. I will announce the book on my blog on Tuesday with order information. Thanks for your support.
Great! Thank you.
Margaret, beautiful post. This “A tickle of rain” just made me smile. It seems such a perfect addition to the chorus. I love the title, and I’m excited to learn more about your book on Tuesday.
Conversation and a poem…a perfect way to start the day.