search articles:     from the issue of November 30, 2006         American Life in Poetry  BY TED KOOSER, U.S. POET LAUREATE, 2004-2006 Linda Pastan, who lives in Maryland, is a master of the kind of water-clear writing that enables us to see into the depths. This is a poem about migrating birds, but also about how it feels to witness the passing of another year. The Birds are heading south, pulled by a compass in the genes. They are not fooled by this odd November summer, though we stand in our doorways wearing cotton dresses. We are watching them as they swoop and gather-- the shadow of wings falls over the heart. When they rustle among the empty branches, the trees must think their lost leaves have come back. The birds are heading south, instinct is the oldest story. They fly over their doubles, the mute weathervanes, teaching all of us with their tailfeathers the true north. Reprinted from "The Imperfect Paradise," by Linda Pastan. Copyright (c) 1988 by Linda Pastan. With permission of the publisher, W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. Pastan's most recent book is "Queen of a Rainy Country," W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2006. This weekly column is supported by The Poetry Foundation, The Library of Congress, and the UNL Department of English. This column does not accept unsolicited poetry. GO TO: ISSUE OF NOVEMBER 30 ARTS HEADLINES FOR NOVEMBER 30 Bauer publishes prose trifecta American Life in Poetry BFA capstone exhibtion opens Dec. 4 'Cats' celebrates 25th year with 3-day stop at Lied Center Clay Club pottery sale is Dec. 8-9 First Friday features 'Winter Escape' Dec. 1 Great Plains Art Museum hosts Sartore lecture Open studio night is Dec. 8 Orchestra presents annual Holiday Pops Concert Dec. 10 Rep Theatre twists holiday classic Theatrix puts Hollywood under the microscope 732645S36511X