Nurture

grebes on the river
take turns to incubate
precious eggs inside a nest

balanced on a platform between
two half submerged branches
built with utmost diligence

a supported floating platform
where one of a pair labours over
impending hatches, warming, turning

while the other dives for fish
for its mate's breakfast or seeks further
fresh material to nest strengthen

they work in perfect partnership
periodically changing roles
i do not question, but smile

whenever i observe nature
close up and personal
i know we have lost the plot

Reviews

[Robert Trakofler]

you I doubt have ever lost your plot tho Christine the Rhyming Queen. You are the nurturer of so many and of the words you write too. The waves of your nurture are myriad... I always say and I believe this more than a line can express the true measurement of a life well spent is how many lives we have touched. when we face the divinity that is the only wealth we will held to account! me thinks you will need a Brinx truck

[Chris Shaw]

Bunny, this is such a lovely, warm review. You have put a smile on my face and I thank you. In fact I can't thank you enough for your very generous thoughts :))

Chris

[Stella Armour]

Oh Chris, you have not lost the plot at all my friend, it is just that others have no time to stop, stare and wonder at all the beautiful creations around them..

[Chris Shaw]

Stella, lovely to receive a review from you. Hope your Christmas was a good one. Wishing you all the best for the New Year my friend.

Chris

[Stella Armour]

Yes thanks Chris, all the best for a good New Year for you and yours too :)

[Jimmy Yetts]

God-given instinct is a wondrous thing; survival always being enhanced by cooperation.
Another elegant example of your well-honed insight.
Exquisitely portrayed, good poetess!

[Chris Shaw]

Nature is so interesting to write about. Thank you Jimmy for commenting.

Chris

[barleygirl]

This is so damn brilliant, I feel like I've died & I'm floating down the creek of regret. Your poem is so lovely, totally transporting me to the place where I marvel at the way nature does it's thing. Your details are so precise & brief, but conjuring up a ton of visualization in the reader's mind. But with all this pile of great sensations your poem delivers, I'm left with the letdown of your last line. That's an awesome (satisfying yet sad) stab at how humans squander the planet (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Chris Shaw]

What a fabulous review Margie. So happy you like this one. Many thank your for your generosity.
read moreWhat a fabulous review Margie. So happy you like this one. Many thank your for your generosity.

Chris

[Michael R. Burch]

I sometimes "adopt" baby ducks who have lost their mothers, feeding them until they're big enough to fend for themselves. So I like the title of your poem, and the story it tells. There was one line that seemed awkward to me:

seeks further / fresh material to nest strengthen

We would normally say "to strengthen their nest."

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much for your thoughts and your suggestion for improving a line. Most appreciated.
read moreThank you so much for your thoughts and your suggestion for improving a line. Most appreciated.

Chris

[Michael R. Burch]

You're very welcome!

[alanwgraham]

Lovely Chris. So well observed. These grebes just know their place in nature. We, as humans, have eaten from the tree of good and evil and there is no going back. Or, as Burns says of the mouse, 'still, thou are blessed compared with me, the present only toucheth thee.' Oh, where would the world be without us? My only question is - could you miss out the last verse? It might depend on the reader.
The only good thing about being awake with toothache is that I didn't miss this.
Cheers,
Alan

[Chris Shaw]

Aw thanks Alan. Sorry about that toothache. Nothing worse than that niggling pain and it always comes at night. Very much appreciate your visit.

Chris

[Dave]

Chris - what a beautiful scene you present in your words. Surely a sight worth taking the time to see and appreciate.

Take care - Dave

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Dave. So pleased you enjoyed this nature poem. Happy Sunday.

Chris

[Lorry]

Ha! We have indeed. We need to know how long it takes, what to wear and whether there'll be a chance that we can be the one not driving so we can get hammered to just get through whatever it is we need to do. Meanwhile, every other species just gets on with it, come rain, hail or shine.
We most certainly have lost the plot. If it weren't for kinder Buenos, I would give humanity a D minus 😀

[Chris Shaw]

Don't mention that old chestnut about who's driving. That will bring a wall of silence if ever there was one. Or who's clearing the dishes. Those little creatures don't utter a squeak, they just get on with it :) I wanna be a grebe. Thank you Lorry.

Chris

[Lorry]

I'll do the dishes Chris. I don't mind, it let's me enjoy my hobby at the same time, of staring vacantly out the kitchen window and wondering how many jelly babies I can fit in my mouth. You know, life's big questions 😀

[Chris Shaw]

Kinder eggs and jelly babies. It don't take much to please you does it? :)

[Lorry]

Nope. The things I'll do for a pack of star mix 😀

[Jb]

Thank you for the smile-worthy observation.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Jb for your visit.

Chris

[Dave Brown]

a wonderful, good feeling reflection of nature's ways
Very nicely done

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks for your lovely review Dave. Most appreciated.

Chris