Fledgling Attachment

(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.

Author's Note

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

Reviews

[R.E. Ray]

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.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for this lovely review Robert. Truth be known, I am far too sentimental when it comes to nature's creatures. When I expressed to my family, weeks later my concern for the Brixham fledgling they just smiled and shook their heads. I appreciate your encouragement.

Chris

[R.E. Ray]

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

[Dave Brown]

So true about nature's reality and a sad tale
This reminds me of a recent circumstance where ELEVEN elephants drowned trying to save a baby calf
Another cruel reminder of nature's harsh realities

[Chris Shaw]

Now you have got me weeping buckets Dave. A truly horrendous story. Tells me just how much value that elephant family placed on that little calf. Nature certainly has a vicious streak. Thank you for your review. All the best.

Chris

[Lydia Shutter]

A sad tale.....be strong or be a victim of the elements. The intricate imagery here made me see it all through your eyes. A life lesson while on a vacation. Survival of the fittest applies even in the avian world. As always, beautifully written, Chris. LydI**

[Chris Shaw]

Parental empathy here Lydi** across the species. Struck a cord. Thank you so much for your thoughts. All good wishes.

Chris

[NotUsinganymore]

Very nice poem about the life of birds. I guess birds also do suffer just like humans do.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you JungLee. Without doubt the parents were distressed when this fledgling fell into the guttering. They were trying really hard to encourage it to climb back into its nest. The poor thing did not have the strength.

Chris

[NotUsinganymore]

Aww that's sad.

[augustus]

Daft isn't it! Here we are getting all sentimental about fish and chip thieves when they poo over everything in sight and don't clean up afterwards!! Loved your prose!

[Chris Shaw]

Yes Augustus, if they had nicked my fish and chips or pinched my granddaughter's ice-cream, there wouldn't have been any of this sentimentality. It was the nurturing that did it. You know, one mother to another even across species :)) So pleased you enjoyed anyway. Thank you.

Chris

[John Alexander McFadyen]

A descriptive narrative poem that took me to smell the salt air and hear the gulls calling incessantly over Brixham. A Darwinian tale indeed!

[Chris Shaw]

Yes John. More Darwin. My sentimentality often crosses Darwin's path :)) Thanks for checking this one out.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

i am sitting here a little stunned and chuckling a bit by such a surprise turn in closing ... you sucked me in the whole way through ... perhaps this dead end is what was looked for all along ... ohmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! ;)
E.
ps fine natural rhythm in this free verse .. great story telling .. the whole thing a metaphor in the end .. great twist and turn says i! :)

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Mr E. Yes it is a true story but can so easily be a metaphor too. Pleased you enjoyed my free verse story telling. Good wishes now winging their way across the pond to greet you and wish you a happy day my friend.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

back at ya Chris ... this poem also reminds me of the Bible verse that tells us when a sparrow falls to Earth God sees it ... ministers point to God's involvement in the smallest aspects of our lives if we let Him .. but i can not help but note the nitty gritty of life ..God may take note of a sparrows death .. but die it did ;))) love on ya girl! top o' the mahrnin .. and the rest of the day as well to ya!

[Chris Shaw]

Aw, I love hearing your wisdom Mr E. Let the sun shine on you all your days.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

:)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

[Earl Schumacker]

Hi Christine,
Well done! I like the poetics in this one. Such great images. I love your linguistic and language skills.
Have a wonderful day. Earl

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Earl, good to have a visit from you with such a lovely response. Thank you so much. Hope all is happy your world. Enjoy what the day brings.

Chris

[Intothemilkyway]

The way you describe things is amazing. Your many use of adjectives is diversified.
You have done a great job.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much for checking this poem out and leaving such a pleasing review intothemilkyway. That is a beautiful name and conjures up some incredible imagery.

Chris