Treasured Mud Oasis

By Rhiannonw

Fri, 08 Jun 2018
  • 1170 reads
6 comments
 

Turning vehicles have lowered
little carpark’s centre, scoured –
heavy rain brings spreading puddle,
slowly shrinking to the middle
– irritation,
but, surprise – see martins dart,
dazzling their speedy swooping
sweeping in and scooping    
nesting plaster…
look so smart
as they cluster
briefly in the precious muddy dirt.

[photograph – copyright Keith Weber]

 

Certificate U
Poem
Nature
Nature

Comments

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

What a wonderful moment to have captured Rhiannon! I don't know if it's the same where you live, but here swallows and house martins used to be so common (and a delight) and now you hardly ever see them

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Insert,

When we first moved here, there were some old barns, and lots of swallows. There was rebuilding/modernisation and we longer get the swallows much where we live. This little carpark is at our little chapel and its puddle is quite a nuisance with uncertainty how to solve the problem especially as a neigbouring plot may have building work going on in it soon. So it was lovely to see crowds of martins swooping in and down and settled on the ground to see them so much more clearly in their black and white splendour, and to realise the usefulness of our puddle (which had shrunk due to more warm weather, and represented probably the only wet mud still nearby) to their buidling endeavours! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I love the sense of movement you have achieved with the rhymes and matching vowels:

"dazzling their speedy swooping/sweeping in and scooping"

And the quickness of "dart, smart, dirt, martin"

And I like the human bit in the middle : "irritation, but, surprise" then everything turns to delight.

It's a magical poem

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you so much, Di. Some of these words are very onomatopoeic aren't they? Yes, that puddle can be such a nuisance, but lovely to see the busy beautiful martins! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Tarmac saves Time but Puddle inspires Poet :0)

There was a program last night about someone remembering fireflies when he was growing up but now they have all gone because they can't cope with artificial light. So many wonders are disappearing for our convenience. Your poem is a beautiful illustration of how to treasure Nature

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks! Rhiannon