Starlings and Willows. Poetry and Poetry Audio Blog

Starlings and Willows

In this episode, I discuss the flight of birds and the sway of trees and how starling and the willow might give exemplar for our interactions with others. The poems the Starling and the Willow, When Will We Grow Together, and Starling are voiced. Hope you will join me and click in for a listen. The Starling is published below. 

The Starling

singing starlings

iridescent divas

bejewelled, feathered

chirping constellations

shooting, falling

settling, nestling

rising again

with the newborn

crepuscular coma

whistled aria


performing 

pinioned mimic

chords resonate

songs shimmer

in the emerging


mind/space

a diamond cymbal 

prismatic and aloft


syncopating 

with
the dawn's chorus

Starling is published Domesticate the Heavens. When Will We Grow Together is posted in Monsters, Avatars, and Angels. The Starling and the Willow is published in Strays. Please visit my blog to further explore the accompanying photos and essay, some bonus poetry, and keep up-to-date with all my writing. 

Longer works can be found on the my amazon page.

Reviews

[Arundass TP]

Really a beautiful poem. Each line looks musical. Nicely written poem

[Pryde Foltz]

Thank you, Arundaas:)

[Lorry]

Yes, you have captured those feathered diva's well, but is it just me or does that audio sound kinda Scottish?
It may just be my decaffeinated ears at silly o'clock in the morning, but I'll be back to hear it again, once I've been caffeinated. 😃

[Pryde Foltz]

Scottish ... I wish. LOL. Thank you so much, Lorry:)

[Sami Khalil]

Top- notch descriptions and imagery of these type of majestic looking birds and the Willow trees. The happiness and sadness are represented marvelously and simultaneously. The author is a true naturalist.

[Pryde Foltz]

She tries ... and you had not a small part in the writing of the 'other poem ... thank you for that:)

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! You are welcome Pryde

[Twilight]

Ironically, the Starling is not a bird which is generally considered to be an attractive one to the eye. It's never going to be regarded as "a bird of paradise", or an exotic bird; let's face it.?

On the otherhand, you seem to have focussed upon how this bird flies; and sounds to an attentive listener. You have shown appreciation, for the attributes; which this bird does have.

"syncopating with the dawn"s chorus". With this line, you could be expressing how a Starling flock can behave - as if in chorus with that time of day. As if, their presence has the same natural predictability; as when dawn breaks?

Technically, we could make a similar claim regarding another species of bird in the context of dawn breaking. However, poetry can be about feelings and perceptions; and so the Starling may have some special significance for this writer? Not necessarily, a deep meaning. She might just happen, to live in view of a nearby flock; and appreciate being in tune with their antics? So, their very mention; could be a kind of homage.

This is a fairly brief poem, but I don't doubt that it reflects genuine thoughts of the writer.

The first verse describes this bird eloquently and attractively, although rather generously for such a species. The writer will have her reasons. For example, in certain light; it may appear more attractive? Or, when viewed more closely; which could make a difference too.

Verse two, seems to have a focus upon routine behaviours of this bird.

The third verse, and verse four; unequivocally portray how pleasantly a Starling can sing. More than that, how it resonates within a wider sphere or "space"; whilst also merging with the senses of anyone who listens in.

Julian

[Pryde Foltz]

Eropean starlings can be quite pretty with streaks of iridescence throughout their coat and they are wonderful singers and mimics,
https://www.britannica.com/animal/starling

Starlings are quite common though and maybe we have come to take them for granted, their beauty, grace, and song.

Yes ... it is a shorter poem but in the context of the other two poems offered in the recording perhaps a greater epic of sorts of the poor starling is reached.

Mostly I find the starling as Way to greater enlightenment, but one does have to look closer and still her own thoughts to achieve it. Maybe.

I will be around later today to return reviews and such. Hope your day went well for you.

[Twilight]

What a lovely reply. I did not realise, that there was a european subspecies of Starling; which certainly helps to lift my earlier bemusement. By coincidence, I have some fondness for birds too; but we can save that topic for a separate talk. I read your direct message too, and pleased with your reply.

[Pryde Foltz]

Glad things are well with us:)