Cinereous winged, even swifter than the wind,
they fly in, through a chink in the horizon.
All that breathes – moves – quakes, quickly
darts for cover. The hare into the hawthorn bush,
the dove to its cot – the vole to the sanctity
of its hole in the north side of the bank.
A red-legged partridge calls her chicks; in
haphazard fashion, she shepherds them
to the depths of the woodbine.
And so, tentatively, they hover …hang as if suspended
by invisible thread in mid-air, then they drop like a stone;
a stoat becomes a tasty breakfast for a hawk. Likewise,
an unsuspecting toad – too slow, in its futile attempt
to hide beneath a rock …
Meanwhile, I look on in with mixed emotions. Me
who wouldn’t, couldn’t harm a soul – both in pity
and in complete and utter awe. Not just of birds,
fish, insects or animals, but of all the untold others
ruled by tougher law, as I sit in cloistered kitchen; those
governed by nature’s inexorable law of sheer survival.
Comments
Nathan Bednarek | February 19, 2009 - 00:50
Now this really speaks to me. I'm quite a nature geek, so for me this poem is just perfect.
I absolutely love this poem and I'm not even going to pick a favourite line. However, the wisdom of
'...but of all the untold others
ruled by tougher law, as I sit in cloistered kitchen. Those
governed by nature’s inexorable law of sheer survival.'
is just overwhelming.
You speak of the 'Others' with so much respect and admiration; it's so enchanting. The poem reminds me that this world doesn't just belong to the human race.
Thank you for posting this beautiful piece of poetry and as always, well done! ;-p
Love, Nathan.
Silver Spun Sand | February 19, 2009 - 08:33
Thank you, Nathan. You have quite a 'silver' tongue yourself:-)
This was such a fantastic sight the other morning when I was sitting in the kitchen drinking my first cuppa of the day. I am lucky enough to look out on fields, and the sight of the hawk is a common one, but I have never seen two hunting together in this way. It was amazing.
Tina x
keleph | February 19, 2009 - 16:08
Some wonderful turns of language here- the sounds are easy to speak, natural like the subject (particularly in the second and third stanzas it reads beautifully).
threeleafshamrock | February 19, 2009 - 18:43
No point in saying the same things over and over; suffice to say, it's another gem; a small novella captured in a few lines; sublime.
Chris X
littleditty | February 20, 2009 - 00:24
wonderful descriptive piece, keen'eyed Tina, great real Nature piece -loved the gentle awe and the appreciative tones - a moment of Nature, and human nature, tis amazing watching animals, and the wonderment comes through this one poem -super xxx
MistakenMagic | February 20, 2009 - 09:03
I have always loved wildlife and you have captured some amazing moments of their day-to-day lives Tina ;)
'and then they drop like a stone, and a stoat
becomes a tasty breakfast morsel for a hawk
likewise, an unsuspecting toad, too slow,
in its futile attempt to hide beneath a stone.'
Loved these stanzas :)
Magic xxx
Silver Spun Sand | February 21, 2009 - 13:11
Thank you so much, keleph. Glad you enjoyed it.
Tina
Silver Spun Sand | February 21, 2009 - 13:12
And you're a little gem, too Chris. My thanks to you for reading and for you kind words.
Tina X
Silver Spun Sand | February 21, 2009 - 13:14
ld - good to hear from you. I hope life is treating you kindly these days:-)
Writing about nature is probably what I enjoy most. It is always changing and is a constant source of inspiration.
Your words mean much. Thank you.
Tina xxx
Silver Spun Sand | February 21, 2009 - 13:15
Magic - again you picked my favourite lines:-) Glad you enjoyed it, and keep your wonderful nature poems coming too.
Tina xxx