Attributes of Birds
The tensile strength of bone. The pectorals
that punch a body through the air. The fan
of feathers on a wing, their fine twin vanes.
The passage through the heavens and the weft
of common purpose, when a turning bird
braids through the flock’s warp – shuttle on a loom.
The sudden lift into the sky. The plunge
of pure delight, or through the trembling air
toward a target. Wind and turbulence.
The fleck upon the skyline. Two trim legs
tucked flat against the drag, as two bright eyes
scan Earth and Heaven. Is it possible
to climb above the tallest tree? The skill
that’s daub and wattle. Breaking through the egg
into reality. The beak or bill.
Attributes of Birds
Birds! ... Birds! ... Birds! ... (^v^)
W.-B. is pleased. I think we've seen this one before, John, and we're happy to re-read. We like the biology at the beginning, the action of 'punch' and 'fan'. The 'turning bird' is effective too, recalling the falcon of W.B. (Yeats). There is quite a lot of drama through the flight. We wonder whether you have a particular species in mind with '[t]wo trim legs', for example. For some reason, a more muscular bird comes to mind, perhaps a bird of prey? We like the ending too.
W.-B. would like to know, do you have a favourite bird? (*v*)
Cheerie,
F & (^v^)
W.-B. is pleased. I think we've seen this one before, John, and we're happy to re-read. We like the biology at the beginning, the action of 'punch' and 'fan'. The 'turning bird' is effective too, recalling the falcon of W.B. (Yeats). There is quite a lot of drama through the flight. We wonder whether you have a particular species in mind with '[t]wo trim legs', for example. For some reason, a more muscular bird comes to mind, perhaps a bird of prey? We like the ending too.
W.-B. would like to know, do you have a favourite bird? (*v*)
Cheerie,
F & (^v^)
Well, I have no great knowledge John, especially the science. I like the final sentence for detail, it would be easy to default to only beak. The 'plunge of delight' certainly reminds me of one of my fav birds the chough, though here the 'target' made me think of a bird of prey (trembling air is great by the way).
Attributes of Birds
The tensile strength of bone. The pectorals
that punch a body through the air. The fan
of feathers on a wing, their fine twin vanes.
The passage through the heavens and the weft
of common purpose, when a turning bird
braids through the flock’s warp – shuttle on a loom.
The sudden lift into the sky. The plunge
of pure delight, or through the trembling air
toward a target. Wind and turbulence.
The fleck upon the skyline. Two trim legs
tucked flat against the drag, as two bright eyes
scan Earth and Heaven. Is it possible
to climb above the tallest tree? The skill
that’s daub and wattle. Breaking through the egg
into reality. The beak or bill.
A lot to like here.. there's just so much vivid description- a breath of fresh air, might I say!
Have you read Ted Hughes "Hawk in the Rain" ? Simon Armitage has edited a book on the poetry of birds
T
The tensile strength of bone. The pectorals
that punch a body through the air. The fan
of feathers on a wing, their fine twin vanes.
The passage through the heavens and the weft
of common purpose, when a turning bird
braids through the flock’s warp – shuttle on a loom.
The sudden lift into the sky. The plunge
of pure delight, or through the trembling air
toward a target. Wind and turbulence.
The fleck upon the skyline. Two trim legs
tucked flat against the drag, as two bright eyes
scan Earth and Heaven. Is it possible
to climb above the tallest tree? The skill
that’s daub and wattle. Breaking through the egg
into reality. The beak or bill.
A lot to like here.. there's just so much vivid description- a breath of fresh air, might I say!
Have you read Ted Hughes "Hawk in the Rain" ? Simon Armitage has edited a book on the poetry of birds
T
Counting the beats,
Counting the slow heart beats,
The bleeding to death of time in slow heart beats,
Wakeful they lie.
Robert Graves
Counting the slow heart beats,
The bleeding to death of time in slow heart beats,
Wakeful they lie.
Robert Graves
Greetings, Fliss and Coo, Phil, and Ton,
Fliss and Coo: yay birds! You may have seen this one before, I’ve had it for a while now. It’s again from To Our Alien Overlords. Yup, biology to start, then punch and fan. I agree, the falcon turning in yeats seems present here. Two trim legs is how I think of birds, compared with mammals who have heavier legs, but it does seem that it might be a raptor. My favorite bird? Perhaps a dove? Though I am also partial to swallows, for their flight.
Phil: Yes, I liked contrasting beak and bill! There is some science in here, I think, which I value. The chough I know only by name, but I agree, this could be a raptor. Glad you liked the trembling air!
Ton: A breath of fresh air is a great compliment, thank you! I am very happy to hear it feels vivid to you, I was going for that.
I have read the Ted Hughes, and that’s among my favorites of his. I also like the film Kes, if folks have seen that old classic. Ken Loach? Nice that Simon Armitage edited that book.
Cheers all,
John
Fliss and Coo: yay birds! You may have seen this one before, I’ve had it for a while now. It’s again from To Our Alien Overlords. Yup, biology to start, then punch and fan. I agree, the falcon turning in yeats seems present here. Two trim legs is how I think of birds, compared with mammals who have heavier legs, but it does seem that it might be a raptor. My favorite bird? Perhaps a dove? Though I am also partial to swallows, for their flight.
Phil: Yes, I liked contrasting beak and bill! There is some science in here, I think, which I value. The chough I know only by name, but I agree, this could be a raptor. Glad you liked the trembling air!
Ton: A breath of fresh air is a great compliment, thank you! I am very happy to hear it feels vivid to you, I was going for that.
I have read the Ted Hughes, and that’s among my favorites of his. I also like the film Kes, if folks have seen that old classic. Ken Loach? Nice that Simon Armitage edited that book.
Cheers all,
John
Yes, we thought it might be from MS Alien Overlords, John. It's pleasant to contemplate various sizes of bird legs of a morning. W.-B. approves your favourite bird; and swallows are also appealing (^v^)
Cheerie,
Fliss & Coo (^v^)
Cheerie,
Fliss & Coo (^v^)
(^v^)