A Blast From the Past

Before progressing to a word processor, I used to write my poems and pieces of prose by hand in a Lett notebook that was relegated to a shelf on a bookcase when I acquired a laptop.

It lay dormant for a long time until I picked it up to throw it away to make room for a new diary and a loose page fell out.

In a neat calligraphy I didn't know I was capable of, was the text of an old poem of mine Here it is for you to appreciate or not, as the case may be,

A Smiling Blue Face

I took up ornithology
because I had heard
the unusual name
of an exotic bird.

It is a new species
of the bird-of-paradise;
its name is Vogelkop,
to be more precise.

During their courtship
the male is active
performing a dance
that is very attractive.

Sporting a black body
and a smiling blue face
he woos the female
with charming grace.

His attention may be
of the first rate
but before settling
she will hesitate

by rejecting many
then choosing a mate,
while all the suitors 
patiently wait.

Even when paired
they cannot yet rest,
having to work hard
in building their nest.

© Luigi Pagano 2025