Goodbye, Proud Fernando

The proudest mockingbird I have ever encountered has flown away for good, I fear

"Tweet, tweet, tweet!", says the mama from her seat in the shady oak tree over yonder

"Glee, glee, glee!" sings the papa in the tree just as proud as he can be of his babies

"My, my, my..." said the coon on the sly as he softly skulked on by that nest site

"Bye, bye, bye" as I saw the parents fly with a tear in their eye to safety....

Author's Note

My office building has a lot of room for critters, and as Spring comes, babies are popping up and a-jumpin' and a-hoppin' around and the parents are singing and putting on a show for everyone. It's a nice soundtrack to my day. After investigating the source of this rather proud and LOUD mockingbird gentleman, I learned that he, Fernando, and his wife, Isabelle, were expecting. He sang ALL day long, proclaiming his love for his new family, and the babies were just the prettiest little things! Isabelle wouldn't let us too close, but we did get a look at them. The other day, Fernando was gone, along with his boisterous music. The nest had been destroyed and babies gone, no doubt from a predator, who unfortunately, has to eat. We're all sad to know that they have gone.

Reviews

[angel]

No doubt Fernando got away to safety...he will make a new family and life goes on...nature can indeed be cruel, but that is the way of the world.A very nice read, telling of the handiwork of the Lord.

Sorry, had to do it...
Fernando

Can you hear the drums Fernando
I remember long ago another starry night like this
In the firelight Fernando
You were humming to yourself and softly strumming your guitar
I could hear the distant drums
And sounds of bugle calls were coming from afar
They were closer now Fernando
Every hour every minute seemed to last eternally
I was so afraid Fernando
We were young and full of life and none of us prepared to die
And I'm not ashamed to say
The roar of guns and cannons almost made me cry
There was something in the air that night
The stars were bright, Fernando
They were shining there for you and me
For liberty, Fernando
Though I never thought that we could lose
There's no regret
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoUCax1Ak08

[Kathy Van Kurin]

'Goodbye Proud Fernando'
D Connolly,
This was a beautiful and fun story. I can imagine the sweetness and fun of a young family of birds there with you. I and my husband had a robin nest on our front porch light and one day when I came home the nest had fallen and there were no birds. At first I thought that something bad had happened but then I realized that it was the time of year when the babies fly away. Hmmm... Anyway your story was very cool!
Kathy

[D Connolly]

thank-you Kathy

[Kathy Van Kurin]

You are welcome.

[Silmara McGarry]

How Beautiful your poem!!!
As I read, I can see with the eyes of my imagination, this God´s created, adorable and enchanting feathery creations:-)
And I must congratulate you, for your great observation of nature around you, and the author´s note.

Stay well dear!
Hugsss
Sil
:-)

[D Connolly]

Thank-you Silmara! Proud Fernando has left for now, but we do have Plato the hawk and Tough Eddie, a bluejay that stands up to Plato daily LOL!

[Silmara McGarry]

Ohhh...always busy scenes...lol... :-)

[Einstein Noodle]

D! you are far gone aren't you ...you named them!!! you are a sunk, soft heart, you are! :)
such a vivid tragedy ..the wrecked nest and disappearance of the family seems so horrific ..it is a dog eat dog world eh!? :( the hope is that Fernando and Isabelle lie to find another hood to sing in ;)
E.

[D Connolly]

Einie, I named the Spider in my office as well LOL! Someone was about to smash him and I yelled, "NO! Don't hurt Fabio!" I also name my plants... I'm nuts haha!

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahahaha ..how can one not love a soul as yours ;)

[Tony Jordan]

I operate a anti-aircraft battery for the nesting swifts in my roof's eves - chucking tiny pebbles at the marauding magpies (just close enough to scare 'em) that try to raid the nest but...can't be there 24/7.
Nature will be what it will be as you know Dani.
I like the way you put this snapshot of Nature together.
:))

[D Connolly]

Hi Tony!! Yes nature is funny like that. I did see the happy couple in a better spot over yonder, and Fern is back to singing again, though I wish he were a little closer to my window.

[emmajoy]

Nature really can be a theatre - comedy and tragedy portrayed year through. And both the background of your post and the post itself explain so much about life and death. Predation comes in so many forms.. when one meets it face-on, it hurts.. and more.

[D Connolly]

Yes, the spring time is full of life and death

[Paul Bell]

Isn't nature great. But can be so cruel to us, as we watch in awe at the speed of life birds have to be, to survive. Sadly not to be. But still epic. How you doing.

[D Connolly]

life is good! It seems that Fernando and Isa have set up a nest just down the way in a safer spot. In addition to that, everything is going well, thank-you!!

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

love this i really do
i can relate to this i wrote a poem called dawn and the bird if you want to check it out about a bird

[D Connolly]

thank-you! I will read yours as well

[jacob erin-cilberto]

predators come in many forms, animal and human...and they just destroy without flinching for a second...perfect lives ruined in an instant.
love the allegory here. at least as it speaks to me that way...

j.

[D Connolly]

Very true, sadly the most successful predators prey on the weak and unsuspecting. Too bad that's how the world works sometimes. Glad to see you Jacob :) thank-you

[barleygirl]

What a tragic, heartfelt tribute to your feathery friends!!!!! I love the story in your author's note, which shows your multi-layered compassion for all living things. Most of all I love the repeated sounds used for dialogue in your poem, as it mimics what you must've heard singing all day long! *smile* Great share! These are the precious shares & I applaud you for capturing this . . . such observances in life are at the crux of good writing . . . first, we must be good observers!

[D Connolly]

Thank-you M! Yes, we've put feeders out for everyone and it's really cool to see all the little guys coming out of the nests. We watched a funny little robin baby get confused about his reflection in the window this morning! And the squirrels are, of course, nature's clowns, and completely ridiculous! Glad that you liked it