Title and Table of Contents

Catherine Wood Phipps Word Count: 43,898
3581 Bournemouth Drive
San Jose, Ca. 95136
408-448-0884

Updated 1/02/2011



Work From This Copy Only
The Nature of Hummingbirds
by
Catherine Phipps








Dedication

To my sister Barbara Wood whose passion for all creatures big and small knows no bounds.

To my friend Susan Schulter– without whose wonderful writing classes and friendship I would never had the courage to take on this daunting task.

To those friends and family who believed in me and were my biggest cheerleaders and helped push me to the finish line.

To my parents – from whom I inherited my artistic sensibilities.










Hummingbird


“
“
“
“
I
am
bound by
no vessel
save the
honeyed blossom.
No heart is as sweet as its nectar, no chalice as deep.
It alone is my love, my companion, my sustenance.
For I belong to no man.
Hence
my song
can not
be heard
for it can not
be sung.


Table Of Contents
Dedication 2 Hummingbird poem 3
Table Of Contents 4-5 Preface 6-8
Ch 1 Navaho legend 9-16
Poem – “Hummingbird Breakfast 17
Ch 2 The Book of Facts 18-24
Ch 3 The Fight 25-31
Ch 4 The Swimming Hole 32-43
Ch 5 The Cellar 44-54
Ch6 Mrs. August 55-62
Ch 7 The Haircut 63-68
Ch 8 The Depression 69-77
Ch 9 The Birthday Gift 78-84
Ch 10 Ojibwa Legend 85- 91
Ch 11 The Dust Storm 92-102
Ch 12 The Nest 103-108
Ch 13 Friends and Visitors 109-115
Ch 14 The Funeral 116-123
Ch 15 The Summer of Loss 124-128
Ch 16 Collette 123-126
Ch 17 Sisters 127-131 Poem – “My Elusive Friend”
Ch 18 Christmas in the fields 132-138
Ch 19 The Wounded 139-144 Ch 20 145-148
Ch 21 Collette’s Wedding 149-153 Poem – “The Suitor”
Ch 22 The Painting 154-163
Poem – “Hummingbirds Breakfast”
Ch 23 Coming Home 164-172 Ch 24 Calli 173-178
Ch 25 Indian Legend 179-185
Ch 26 Solitude 186-192 Ch 27 Relationships 193-197
Ch 28 Vira 198-201
Ch 29 Nesting Instincts 202-206 Ch 30 207-212
Ch 31 Surprise Guest 213-217
Ch 32 Family 218-228