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A Swans Return

Grace had floated royal 
among the sweet summered months,
and not a moment had passed
without the nectar of love;

Three feathered lords so fledgling
white-black,
sleeping white at noon,
'neath arbors brawn....
where the nestles are soft with love,
and dream to host all the world watching;
from horizon's scarlet painting pink
the billowed white hues ---
and black-purple from the Lord's smile

What crimson disguise five plumed hearts
beating as one,
return again o'er Swan Lake,
or with eternal love thy cherubin ponds;
with fountains swooning infinite grace 
then they are gone.....
to privy their existence made,
sleeping black at night 
('neath the gaze of tomorrow's moon)
the future brim with wind....
elder wings at dawn,
unto valor in evening's song,
fain to life again....
(flight of thy Royal Swan)


***Dedicated to the black swan and Queen's royal
swans of Ottawa***

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Brian Sambourne

Date: 4/7/2020 1:19:00 PM

Brilliant! So lyrical. Worth many reads to discover layers of meaning in memorable imagery.

Afzal Nusker

Date: 7/24/2017 12:46:00 AM

A majestic bird beautifully described in your majestic poem. Simply love it!

Keith O.J. Hunt
Date: 7/24/2017 3:34:00 PM

Glad you enjoyed Afzal, it did require a bit of grace to write. God bless:-)

Lynn Marie

Date: 4/19/2017 6:53:00 PM

Oh my how beautiful Keith:) Truly elegant writing with gorgeous language and imagery. Swans are certainly lovely and your words capture the romance of them, exquisitely. I have never seen a Black Swan. A poetic beauty, a joy to read. lynnxxx

Keith O.J. Hunt
Date: 7/24/2017 3:36:00 PM

Hey Lynn, sorry for the late reply; I didn't get the notification and just noticed after Afzal just commented. Many thanks for your kind visit:-)

Arthur Vaso

Date: 3/28/2017 5:36:00 PM

Beautiful poem, I had no idea was just reading about her gift for the 1967 centennial! Great write!

Keith O.J. Hunt
Date: 3/28/2017 11:25:00 PM

Thanks arthur, great point about the centennial; I'm a centennial baby myself, ironic! God bless:-)

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 3/27/2017 3:41:00 PM

Your poem is exquisite Keith and a beautiful tribute to the black swans. We only have black swans here in Hawaii. They are so elegant and lovely. 7 ; )

Keith O.J. Hunt
Date: 3/28/2017 2:03:00 PM

Thanks Connie, I did not know of the black swans of hawaii; I noticed they are more aggressive than the whites, at least with ducks --- if they don't get out of their way they nip em good! But they are so beautiful and elegant as you say:-)

Doug Vinson

Date: 3/26/2017 3:38:00 PM

Literally had goosebumps (no pun intended) while reading, Keith. : ) I ache for the beauty of so many lines, here, and appreciate the sinuous, soft and deep presentation - 'classic' indeed.

Keith O.J. Hunt
Date: 3/26/2017 4:37:00 PM

Wow, so very kind of you to say Doug; half the poem was written in the very presence of the swans, pen and paper --- while I tried to feed one of them from my very hand, but she was somewhat afraid so I put the food on a rock and she ate. It was a very moving experience. Hope you had a good weekend and God bless:-)

Robert Lindley

Date: 3/26/2017 1:59:00 PM

My friend, your way with your words when writing in classic form always awes me. This is top flight writing! Super 7 and a fav....

Keith O.J. Hunt
Date: 3/26/2017 4:27:00 PM

You are too kind Robert, it was a pleasure to write about those swans which to me is so akin to poetry itself; grace, love, beauty and loyalty.God bless brother:-)

Paul Callus

Date: 3/25/2017 10:59:00 AM

Swans are a pleasure to watch, Keith, and it was also a pleasure to read this awesome poem. Swans are a rare sight in Malta, but this year we had a whole family which sought shelter here in January; after recuperating their strength they continued on their journey. // paul

Keith O.J. Hunt
Date: 3/25/2017 5:41:00 PM

Thanks Paul fpr your visit and your fascinating story of the recuperating swans; they truly are heavenly birds:-)

Carolyn Devonshire

Date: 3/22/2017 11:49:00 AM

Few poets have a style of grace that matches the swan, Keith. I could see every image through your creative descriptions. And you're sharing a bit of Canadian history with your readers. After reading your beautiful poem, I researched the royal swans. What an amazing, yearly occurrence. Stunning poetry at its finest, my friend!

Keith O.J. Hunt
Date: 3/23/2017 5:28:00 PM

Thanks a million Carolyn, those wonderful swans gave me a lot of joy in some dark times when visiting them. Quite the story with those animals here in Ottawa and the estuary has many ducks and Canadian geese as well. God bless :-)

Gary Bateman

Date: 3/22/2017 9:53:00 AM

Hello Keith, A marvelous Classicism write. Your three stanzas here literally pull the reader into the text, into the moments of a swan's return. An exquisite use of colors and imagery throughout the narrative. Very descriptive too!! Outstanding Work. A SEVEN AND A FAV!! Cheers and Best, Gary

Keith O.J. Hunt
Date: 3/23/2017 5:23:00 PM

Many thanks Gary. I tried to use all my poetic powers in this piece which needed little inspiration but much grace. Those swans gave me a whole lot of solace over the years when visiting them.:-)

James Inman

Date: 3/22/2017 9:17:00 AM

A gorgeous write Keith. There is a small pond that I used to drive by on occasion on the grounds of the Bacardi Rum Factory in Catano, PR. It was split in half by a lovely arched bridge and there were 3 sets of swans that lived on the pond, one pair of white swans, one pair of black and a pair of black neck swans. I now live near a city known for its swans.

Keith O.J. Hunt
Date: 3/23/2017 5:16:00 PM

Thanks for your visit and kind comment James. Swans are beautiful animals and represent much of the most noble facets of poetry and such a joy to write about. Loved your story of the swans in your town:-)

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 3/21/2017 3:28:00 PM

- I've never seen a black swan (only on images) - Your poem is worth a royal 7 :) - The swans are more successful in love than us humans ... lifelong faithful love :) - A beautiful poem, Keith - hugs // Anne-Lise :)

Keith O.J. Hunt
Date: 3/21/2017 3:42:00 PM

Thanks Anne-Lise. Funny you should mention the black swan; they are only from Australia and one was brought here to Ottawa with the white swans. When I wrote ' White Swan Black Swan' I did not know this; one day I went to see the white swans at Billings Bridge and there was the black swan with the white swans! It was like seeing my poem come to life. which took me a month to write. I was completely floored. :-)

Emile Pinet

Date: 3/21/2017 1:38:00 PM

You paint a picture with words that bring your images alive in the reader’s mind, and we too can appreciate the subtle colors of life. The words are descriptive and paint a many colored canvas of sights and textures that the reader can relate to. Your emotions and wit wrap themselves around your words and we are left questioning our perceptions of the things that surround us in life. Emile. #7

Keith O.J. Hunt
Date: 3/21/2017 2:01:00 PM

Such a vivid description of my work Emile, I do try to convey the underlying existence of our world around us and do consistently find beauty everywhere, especially in such kind and uplifting poets as yourself.Thanks for making my day! God bless:-)