Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Birder's Tales (Poem)

Birder's Tales

1

Election night returns:

a conclave of cardinals,
a new pope seeing red.

2

Black crests bobbing
on a moon-full night:

a crazed crowd of crows.

3

Blue-jacketed jays
tipsy on acorns:

a jazz joint in the oaks.

4

Evening Grosbeak:

sun tumbling
among sunflower seeds.

5

Spring's torchbearers:

Baltimore orioles
strutting in flame-orange dress.

6

Oldest game-bird ritual:

mourning doves playing
telephone tag.

© 2011 Maureen E. Doallas
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This series of bird-themed poems was sparked by L.L. Barkat's post here. Thanks for the inspiration, Laura!
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14 comments:

  1. L.L. BarkatNovember 8, 2011 at 10:54 AM

    Yes! :) I could feel the origin of the inspiration before I even clicked through.

    I love your many-colored birds :)

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  2. Brian MillerNovember 8, 2011 at 4:32 PM

    i think i would rather be the blue jays...haha...nice flight with the birds you take us on maureen...

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  3. JerryNovember 8, 2011 at 5:43 PM

    Hitchcock never saw this side of birds did he. Love it.

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  4. BeachannyNovember 8, 2011 at 6:20 PM

    I love this. I would embroider it on a pillow and give it to a friend, if I still embroidered. These birds are visitors to my sometimes, many (Cardinals, Bluejays, Crows, and Orioles) have nests. You captured them beautifully.

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  5. S. EtoleNovember 8, 2011 at 7:03 PM

    I recognized your cast of characters!

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  6. hedgewitchNovember 8, 2011 at 9:04 PM

    Perfectly captured pictures in these economical word portraits of the larger planetary life that goes on around us (and within us if we pay attention.) Delightful.

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  7. Jenne' R. Andrews November 8, 2011 at 10:59 PM

    such gentle but sharp and focused attention here, Maureen. What are the chances we would have the same bird in our poems on the same day? xxxxj A beautiful cascade of imagery...xxxj

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  8. wayside word gardenNovember 8, 2011 at 11:42 PM

    Love your colorful cast! Lovely scenes. I enjoyed the alliteration in your poem.

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  9. Shashidhar SharmaNovember 9, 2011 at 1:45 AM

    Dear Maureen
    Ahh!! I loved all of them but then my heart tumbles with the sunflowers... and the evening grosbeak...

    thanks for sharing such lovely imagery...

    Shashi
    ॐ नमः शिवाय
    Om Namah Shivaya
    http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com/2011/11/whispers-tears-in-rain.html

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  10. Yousei HimeNovember 9, 2011 at 9:13 AM

    Pairing birds with people brings them closer to the reader. This was a delight to read.

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  11. Charles Elliott/BeautyseerNovember 9, 2011 at 11:57 PM

    Fun!

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  12. GlynnNovember 10, 2011 at 1:59 PM

    I love the back and forth of this -- the connectedness and the "conclave of cardinals."

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  13. Wayne PitchkoNovember 10, 2011 at 7:17 PM

    loved tham all too...thanks for sharin this

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  14. Wayne PitchkoNovember 10, 2011 at 7:27 PM

    a rich dance indeed

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