Slipway

(Observations)

here
where little egrets wade by day
where plovers peck at weed
and gulls parade on cobbled stones
wetted by tide’s glisten

swans gracefully glide
as black water rises
to a gentle lap lap lap

town clock strikes twelve
midnight sleeps
echoes carried on time passing
amber street lamps flicker

old man pauses
hands clutching stale bread
pieces torn and thrown
bit by bit
reach salt water surface

watch the commotion
hear the noise of gull chicks
screeching greedy
ear shattering cacophony
a free for all din
in a mass of wing flap
hovering

see white feathers ruffled
angry
to converge within seconds
for late night bother
all manners lost in the
feasting

survival mentality
how very human

Reviews

[Marie]

I love the many beautiful pictures you paint for your reader within this amazing poem and I also love how you narrate the story of the birds and the old man feeding them, bless him. Late at night, the town clock strikes midnight and the noise which the baby gulls are making is enough to wake up the whole town as come to feast. Yes, we have much in common with the seagulls when it comes to surviving, Chris and when I go out each morning to feed both the crows and the seagulls, the noise is absolutely deafening as they literally fight for the food, though there's lots there, they are very protective of their lot. I adore this lovely story, Chris and the pictures you so deftly paint through excellent word choice throughout the poem. Kudos on this masterful write which I so enjoyed and thank you for sharing too...

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Love the mood and setting of the piece as well as the picturesque prose that captures each scene, well done and very much enjoyed.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

The animal kingdom is so like the human kingdom...
and it can be quite peaceful at times...both can be.
j.