Mayfair Magpie

Aquisitive or what?

        

    

                                 Resplendent

                                 in iridescent feathered wrap,

                                 this hedonist launches the foray

                                 from her Georgian porticoed

                                 and chimneyed  sanctum;

                                 announces her coming

                                 with the customary strident squawk.

                                 “Taxi! Taxi!”

                                 So many times she veers,

                                 diverted from her course,

                                 drawn here and there

                                 by the merest chance

                                 of baubles, morsels, more,

                                 to feed her fancy.

                                 Her bobbing dance

                                 of  flight and stride,

                                 her staccato beat of wing,

                                 will not be stilled until

                                 she spies a telling glint of light,

                                 sequin or sparkling gem.

                                 Synchronised

                                 with her flashing mascara`d eye,

                                 her carriage soars the air,

                                 steering her through avenues

                                 of cheap tinselled dross

                                 to alight daintily

                                 on her chosen catwalked Versace rail

                                 or a familiar jewelled branch

                                 in Hatton Garden.

                                 Only at dusk

                                 will she rest,

                                 preening in her towered pile,

                                 spent for another day.

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i was so disappointed when this ended...i was flying with the bird and enjoying the journey so much...

but okay...time to rest...she will fly again tomorrow...wonder how expensive that Taxi is.

i imagined Tom Hanks' girlfriend in "You've Got Mail"

[Pete Langley]

I`m sure there are birds like this in every major city worldwide - and I`ve worked for a few of them in my time! They are all emptyheads with too much dough. P.

[Leslie Philibert]

I know Pete`s work. This is a fine poem, full of both critcal tones but at the same time written with great powers of observation and beauty, and poem that works at many levels. Fine write.

[Einstein Noodle]

man oh man ... what a treat to read .. language flush with verdant fields and sky .. now how i love the Magpie!!! one can never appreciate God's creatures, large and small, enough! glad i found this one Peter! hope you are exuberant and very well!!;)
E.

[Pete Langley]

So glad to hear from you again, Gene. Yes , I thought the extended metaphor of these birds was perfect to reflect the absolute absurdity of aquisitive affluence pervading our society.
As of me.....well, glady, after major surgery, I`m now well on the way to recovery after this last year of persistent illness, so you can hopefully count on hearing more from me in future, and I thank you gratefully for your friendship, mate. P.

[Ed Hart]

the inglorious pretended life...great to see your great pen at work

[Pete Langley]

Thanks so much, Ed. Glad you enjoyed. P.

[icelandicblue]

Oh how thoroughly indulgent she is and I laughed out loud at "Taxi, Taxi." A perfect observation of an overly pampered person. I have missed reading you and this was delightful.

[Pete Langley]

Thanks so much, Anne. Nice to know you liked the piece. P.

[Botania]

Tingling diction. Enjoyed descriptions from the watchful eye, whether supposed or real.

[Pete Langley]

Well, we have jackdaws on our roofs at home......and I`ve observed plenty of these other birds flitting about in London! They`re real enough! Thanks, Botania. P.