Grackles

Grackles

I rambled along a city street
Going nowhere with no one to meet
When I espied grackles in a tree,
Stretching and heckling between the leaves.
Purplish-headed, black-feathered beings,
Perched on the branches, stately and free.

Undaunted by my drawing nearer,
Their yellow eyes traced my demeanour.
And when I stopped to observe the plague
While standing ‘neath the foliage shade,
They dropped to the ground and hopped around
Searching for bugs and seeds to swallow down.

Other birds in the vicinity,
Colourfully dressed and singing brightly,
Flitted about but could not drown out
The grackles’ cacophony hereabouts.
Their corny antics invoked my senses
To marvel that such creatures existed.

And as I continue my dreary way
In this world of bland human display,
I think of them enjoying the summer,
Filling my heart with spirited wonder.
And I chuckle to myself by chance to see
Grackles basking in tall broadleaf trees.

birdnaturetreelyric

♡Like0

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

John Watt

February 11, 2022 at 6:44 PM

Dennis, I always am delighted by the art images that grace your pages, and this one is no exception. It is beautiful on its own, but even more enjoyable as a tone setter for your charming poem about grackles. I admit to not knowing anything about this particular bird before reading your ode, but now am both educated and very pleased I stopped by today. Incidentally, if you are interested at all in Van Gogh, I recently posted a poem about him called "Compose". Take care, my artistic friend

Dennis Spilchuk

February 14, 2022 at 9:42 AM

Grackles are a very common bird where I live, but are commonly mistaken for blackbirds or crows. If fear is not present, these birds will continue their routines, and sometimes act quite comical. I enjoyed reading your poem, "Compose", and of interest, I wrote a Villanelle entitled "Aloof" using the same self-portrait prompt,Thank you John for your wonderful and encouraging comment.