Fledgling Attachment

Fledgling Attachment

A Poem by Chris Shaw
"

(Holiday Observations from the terraced heights. Die or fly, which was it)

"
When I was gone from Brixham
thoughts of mine would take flight,
gather speed and without the slightest
effort, wing their way back to the last
days of June.

I found myself focusing on a view,
five counties to the west of home, on
a weathered, weed ridden roof stack,
high in the terraced heights, looking down on an historic town.

There a pair of sea gulls had invested
their time, building a nest in a spot
between two of five chimney pots, caked
in guano, bleached white and baked hard
by sun's burn.

From a balcony I had watched two chicks
receive nurture, pitifully one fell out of bed to tumble helplessly into guttering.
The parents, all a flutter tried their best
to coax their fledgling back to the safety of its nest, to no avail.

When we left, the chick was frail,
his plight uncertain and I wondered
whether he would fly or die.
Succumb to starvation or exhaustion.

Three months later, I have returned.
No trace of gulls, while the recent heavy rain, has washed all that remained, complete with caked guano, clean away.
I came to the conclusion that finding a solution has reached a dead end.





© 2019 Chris Shaw


Author's Note

Chris Shaw
The layout of this poem, has not appeared as I intended. Must be a gliche as I can't correct it. Sorry.

My Review

Would you like to review this Poem?
Login | Register




Featured Review

Nature is beautiful and brutal, and cleanses it’s own. You’ve captured that so well here, Chris. And, how many of us want to save that fledgling from the gutter? It’s what we know and do, but it’s not how other species exist in the natural world. So, we’re left with dead ends that birds never see... or so it seems here. A beautiful but tragic story in poetic form. A true pleasure.

Posted 5 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

5 Years Ago

Thank you for this lovely review Robert. Truth be known, I am far too sentimental when it comes to n.. read more
R.E. Ray

5 Years Ago

You're welcome, Chris. Always a pleasure to read your work.



Reviews



that glitch didn't detract in the slightest from the clear message that underpins the main body of work you have placed here .. and so life goes on regardless .. Neville

Posted 8 Months Ago


Chris Shaw

8 Months Ago

I still can’t sort the glitch, but thank you for resurrecting this holiday memory. Fascinating wat.. read more
Neville

8 Months Ago


Indeed, very sad .. but very true to life. Neville
Fly or die!
How that imperative so well captures the essence of our own lives.
Sadly, so many of us choose to "die" rather than risk lifting off.
A stunning poem which, besides spinning a touching baby gull tale, warns
against humans opting for a "life" of living death.
As always, high-level work, Chris!

Posted 4 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

4 Years Ago

Survival in all its harsh reality. Only the strongest make it. Great review Jimmy. Love where you we.. read more
I love to watch the seabirds and even the inland water birds like herons. Sometimes birds fall from the nest and can't be retrieved. It's a sad fact of life but often we humans lose our own children along the road of life and we are vastly more capable of the reaching out. I enjoyed the read. Bless.

Posted 5 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

5 Years Ago

Many thanks Fabian. I appreciate your thoughts and visit. All good things.

Chris
read more
So many fledglings are lost before life begins for them...No chances in this harsh, unrelenting world. Your sensitivity and caring comes through here in this beautifully descriptive poem, Chris.

Posted 5 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

5 Years Ago

Thank you DIVYA, I think I am getting far too soft in my old age. It is hard to watch these scenario.. read more
AYVID N

5 Years Ago

I totally understand Chris. It's very hard to watch, especially when young ones suffer. Any species .. read more
The cruelty of nature only the strongest survive is very heart breaking. And survival is a day to day conquest and you really have to earn your spot or its taken. A lovely write on our world.

Posted 5 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

5 Years Ago

It's hard to watch. I find that David Attenborough's wild life programmes get more and more difficul.. read more
andrew mitchell

5 Years Ago

Our family doesn’t watch them now.
Chris Shaw

5 Years Ago

They can be brutal to watch and young children wouldn:t be having pleasant dreams, that's for sure a.. read more
Survival of the fittest! It is hard to dismiss struggles of life that unfolds before our eyes . Your amazing depiction carries your readers through the emotions you meant in your poem. We witness and sense every step of this recital and ponder endlessly the issue, you leave your readers spellbound, dear Chris.

Posted 5 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

5 Years Ago

You are always so generous with your reviews Mrudula and I thank you warmly for that.

.. read more
I love the sparkling innocence of your bubbling-over recitation of what happened before. It reminds me of how we often remember such an experience that "marks" a place, more than the actual place. It's like we re-imagine how it all went down & your way of doing this feels exactly how it happens in the subconscious mind. The reader is very wrapped up in this saga by the end. It feels like we are all hanging on any clue as to the outcome! I love a poem that ends on uncertainty. (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

Posted 5 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

5 Years Ago

Thanks Margie. You wouldn't believe how many times my mind kept travelling back to those chimney pot.. read more
Mentally giving Kudos on this. It was truly wonderful and I enjoyed reading it.
Nicely done.
-Shoshana
btw, i love the title. For some unknown reason, it seems ...familiar? I don't know. Thousands of applause for 'Fledgeling Attachment.'

Posted 5 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

This offering relates one of those revelatory moments that abound in everyday life. Nature is unsentimental, and the chick's plight gained no relief. Months later, no trace of the epic struggle remained. Makes one wonder about the importance of our own temporary place in the scheme of things.

Posted 5 Years Ago


Chris Shaw

5 Years Ago

Many thanks Shoshana. Pleased you enjoyed the read. All good wishes.

Chris
Yup. This is us. Like when people jump in front of trains there's just blood and guts. Then dudes come out with hoses and clean it up like cleaning out a gutter. Happens all the time where I live. It's really just a train delay. Like how paul riser gets destroyed by the dumpster in one night at mcools and nobody cared. He was in other shows after that. Btw, do you know what happened to Helen Hunt?

Posted 5 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Chris Shaw

5 Years Ago

Interesting perspective and I thank you for sharing your thoughts. Alas, I do not know Helen Hunt, m.. read more

First Page first
Previous Page prev
1
Share This
Email
Facebook
Twitter
Request Read Request
Add to Library My Library
Subscribe Subscribe


Stats

582 Views
29 Reviews
Rating
Shelved in 1 Library
Added on October 8, 2019
Last Updated on October 13, 2019

Author

Chris Shaw
Chris Shaw

Berkshire, United Kingdom



About
Albert, my paternal grandfather introduced me to Tennyson when I was nine. I have loved poetry ever since but did not attempt writing a single piece until I was 40. It's never too late to try somethin.. more..

Writing
Slipway Slipway

A Poem by Chris Shaw


Gone Gone

A Poem by Chris Shaw



Related Writing

People who liked this story also liked..


Heartache Heartache

A Poem by Gee


Wish I Was Wish I Was

A Poem by BL