The Magpie

This emerged in my mind, as a kind of follow on to my "Dark Trader" poem. It's slightly frivolous, and hopefully with meanings which you can relate to. Inspired too, by Poe's "The Raven". In 2 parts.

Part I (Sayeth I):

Hail you elegant 🐦 bird!,
Perched each day,
I see you there,
Or simply flying away 🪽,

In my shared garden 🏡,
You time each moment,
Before you swoop,
Or dodge opponents!,

If only your kind,
Had got greater minds?,
It would threaten us,
Yes human kind!,

Instead of that,
You're so easy to please,
So bright amongst birds,
Yet settling for seeds..!


Part II (Quoth The Magpie):

Foolish human sqwarked the magpie!,
How dare your kind mock me!,
Is it not enough,
That we're happy folk and free?,

We never kill for sport,
We never waste or gamble,
We never kill in rage,
We're always clean and humble!,

What makes you special?,
What makes you people king?,
Look at the flocks of birds,
Giving pleasure when we sing!,

We never imbibe intoxication,
Never known to starve any nations,
At least for now I rest my case,
Are humans really the master race..?

Author's Note

What are your thoughts, comments and criticisms? Feel free to air them here, and I accept "read requests" on this site too.

Reviews

[Samuel Dickens]

This fine poem raises an interesting. There have been human groups that respected and even revered nature, but they now have little influence in this world where "progress" and the pursuit of wealth reigns supreme. We humans may be the master, but we are not always smart or wise.

[Twilight]

Yes. Thanks, Samuel. I only found out recently, that you focus upon stories rather than poems; although with a variety of different themes (even soup!). Keep writing yourself, and best wishes.

[Samuel Dickens]

I write an occasional poem, and most are found on the last pages of my inventory.

[Twilight]

OK, I see.

[Eilis]

I like how you move between the two minds of your subjects. The human speaker maybe felt like he/she was showing reverence and curiosity but the bird feels it is being patronized. What an interesting way of approaching the dynamic between humans and nature.

We do dominate the narrative as creators and expressers through language yet so often we speak with authority when we don’t have all the information. The magpie in your poem reminds us that we only know what we can see and beyond that our ideas stem from our imagination.

What the magpie speaks is truth. These are things we can observe to some degree. What the person says has truth as well but also the person is imparting ideas on the bird that cannot be proven or disproven as a general rule.

It’s compelling to think what the birds might say of us if they could speak in our language. In their own language they often send out distress cries when they spot humans so that is a beginning of our understanding. I enjoyed reading your poem.

[Twilight]

What a thorough and detailed review, thankyou. Best wishes.

[Eternity]

Julian, I especially love how the first part is calm, almost like a school lesson on the wonderful Magpie...

Then the jump to the other extreme; the magpie speaks in manic phrases almost. "How dare you, HUMAN!"

The comparison makes ya think! Sorry about jumping into my own experiences in the first review. I don't know what happened? I think the excitement of the day in general. Anyhoo, awesome write.

[Twilight]

Thanks for the additional praise, because you already reviewed this one once; and I know that you speak your mind. Pleased to read that your day, seems to have been an exciting one. You're awesome yourself, by the way.

[Eternity]

The first one talked about the birds in my yard. YOUR writing DESERVES much more acclaim so I did a recon. Julian.

[Twilight]

We so often seem to get one another, when we talk; and more so than when we started out on our journey; of growing closeness. Your words are like nectar to me, even when you're angry. Goodnight, with genuine fondness. And, have VERY pleasant dreams. Julian

[Eternity]

I was thrilled when a pair of beautiful bluejays made a nest and hatched 4 eggs in my front yard tree. One day a big blackbird swooped down and snatched each baby one at a time eating it as he flew.
It made me hate blackbirds until I saw the bluejays do the very same thing! To other bluejays! I stopped looking. (I especially like the verses where the magpie speaks! (Quoth the Magpie)

[Twilight]

That's a lovely series of comments, and I'm pleased that you could relate to some of the content too. I'm pleased that we're in touch.

[Eternity]

F**k off Bull Shitter.

[Twilight]

That's not how I am. But, if lashing out at me helps you; I'm OK with it. I told you that, recently.

[Twilight]

I have your Sir Anthony poem on my reading list, to review this evening; before I go to bed.

[Eternity]

Don't make me copy-paste your letters here.
(Faith And S&M)
(I think I love You~;)