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The Tawny Throstle

Trudging under frozen starlit skies Against stiff Winters bitter blowes... When ambling up past frosted trees From the wooded valley down below. As stepping into a clearing glade, Surround ragged drifts of thinning snow, Once Summers haze - long since forbade, Now pale Moon beams all aglow. For within this realm of Twilight, Perched high up in a bush, Snugly within his feathered form Roosts a warbled Darkling Thrush. Stirred from his ruffled thoughts... Dulcet voice lifts upon still night: With euphonious notes so sweetly sung - Poured forth in harmonious delight! Oh tawny Throstle, nemesis of Nightingales, Did Heavens Choirs ever sound so sweet? Your scrawny throat of melodious rails - That kept my lover from her feet!

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Patricia Cresswell

Date: 9/21/2017 12:35:00 PM

You should do poetic walking tours of our surroundings. I would pay for that trip because it would be so darned atmospheric and the poetry in situ wow.

John Fleming
Date: 9/24/2017 5:16:00 AM

Gosh, Patricia...that does sound nice! Of all the countries I have ever visited Canada is the most outstanding in terms of panoramic grandeur...with a wild, untamed wilderness all of its own. I have mentioned it before but it is indeed - "Gods Country"!! Lots of warm hugs this idle Sunday morning, Patricia! :) john

Vladislav Raven

Date: 1/27/2016 8:51:00 PM

Hi John, an excellent piece of poetry puts before us a wondrous twilight vision painted by a master indeed. It has been a joy and pleasure to stop by this post this early morn'. Looking forward to reading more John, especially if they are of this high quality, which i am sure they shall be. A seven and a fave my friend.

John Fleming
Date: 1/28/2016 9:55:00 AM

Hi, Vladislav. So nice to make your acquaintance. Thank you very much for your kind and generous comments - Very much appreciated! Please feel free to read and comment in any way on any of my poems - I would be glad of the input. My best regards and well wishes - Cheers! :) john

Kp Nunez

Date: 9/6/2015 12:35:00 PM

Lovely personification, John. Have to visit your old poems waiting for your new post. hugs!

John Fleming
Date: 9/6/2015 12:56:00 PM

Hi, Kim. Hope you are well on the road to full recovery! Thank you for the visit and lovely comment - much appreciated! My very best regards as always, Kim! Your friend... :) john

John Fleming

Date: 4/6/2015 8:51:00 AM

Hi, Jim. Thanks for the visit, much appreciated! Yes..."Throstle"...A delightful word! To really pronounce it with an "Old English" dialect one has to lift their tongue slightly whilst pushing it against the back of their upper front teeth...and...thu-ross-ul...it!! Best regards, Jim!! :) john.

John Fleming
Date: 4/14/2015 3:16:00 AM

You are very welcome, Jim. Enjoy the visit! Best regards!! :) john.

James Horn
Date: 4/6/2015 9:12:00 AM

Awesome, awesome, awesome. We ill be in London on 18 May and can't wait to get there. Hope to be visiting Terry Cooper and his adorable wife June who live in Basildon, Essex, England. Thanks for your informative email. Jim Horn

James Horn

Date: 4/6/2015 5:58:00 AM

throstle - definition of throstle by The Free Dictionary http://www.thefreedictionary.com/throstle Chiefly British Any of various thrushes, especially a song thrush. 2. A machine formerly used for spinning fibers such as cotton or wool. I love Great Britain and always learn something new. JIm Horn

John Fleming
Date: 4/6/2015 8:54:00 AM

Hi, Jim. You are very welcome! Thanks for the visit, very much appreciated! My very best regards!! :) john.

Cynthia Jones

Date: 3/23/2015 6:03:00 PM

John, this is a wonderfully penned piece of poetry. Well done. :O) Keep up with the great work. Keep on penning. Thank you so very much for sharing your wonderful and creative talents with us. We all truly appreciate it. A 7 from me. *S* Cynthia

Cynthia Jones
Date: 4/6/2015 6:59:00 PM

:O) You are most welcome John. Hehe I know. *S* Cynthia

John Fleming
Date: 3/24/2015 1:17:00 PM

Once again...Many thanks, Cynthia - You are always welcome here! Cheers!! :) john.

Julia Ward

Date: 2/21/2015 7:34:00 AM

A wonderful poem! Hugs, Alicia, xxx

John Fleming
Date: 2/21/2015 7:19:00 PM

Thanks, Alicia! You are welcome here anytime!! :) john.

Laura Breidenthal

Date: 2/10/2015 2:46:00 AM

You surely know how to paint vivid pictures with your pen. "With euphonious notes so sweetly sung - Poured forth in harmonious delight!" Love those delicious lines... another beauty...wow...to that ending.. Always, Laura

John Fleming
Date: 2/10/2015 8:03:00 AM

Thank you, Laura. It is always a pleasure for me when you pay my poems a visit. My very best regards!! :) john.

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 2/3/2015 1:42:00 AM

This poem shines so brightly it is no wonder it was given POTD John. It is simply brilliant! Congratulations! #7

John Fleming
Date: 2/3/2015 8:56:00 AM

Connie, you are too kind...many, many thanks for your lovely comments. Your friend, always...john :).

Shadow Hamilton

Date: 1/23/2015 3:10:00 AM

so beautiful you have personalised this lovely bird John a 7 from me hugs

John Fleming
Date: 1/25/2015 12:10:00 AM

Thank you, Shadow. Nice to see you visiting me again! I hope you are keeping well. :) john.

Kelly Deschler

Date: 1/22/2015 1:14:00 AM

You have an admirable appreciation for nature and wildlife, and it shows in your beautiful writing. You are like the John James Audubon of poetry! Simply splendid!

John Fleming
Date: 1/22/2015 12:59:00 PM

Hello again, Kelly! You are most kind! Thank you for your very warm and generous comments...you have paid me a great compliment!! :) john.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 1/19/2015 11:42:00 PM

gosh, he is the nemesis of nightingale. I always learn something at soup! This was pure delight to read. So lyrical and beautiful. Even the title, tawny throstle. you are an artist!

John Fleming
Date: 1/20/2015 12:48:00 AM

Thanks, Andrea! As always your kind comments are greatly appreciated!! :-) john.

Jon Bolduc

Date: 1/11/2015 5:15:00 PM

a very lyrical poem with some wonderful natural imagery. Great work! Jon

John Fleming
Date: 1/12/2015 3:01:00 PM

Thank you, Jon! I am very pleased to make your acquaintance...cheers!! :) john.

Paul Callus

Date: 1/10/2015 8:58:00 AM

Well done, John! Sweet song and lovely imagery indeed make this poem worth reading. #7 // paul

John Fleming
Date: 1/10/2015 1:57:00 PM

Nice to see you again, Paul! Hope you are keeping well. Many thanks!! :) john.

Cona Adams

Date: 1/10/2015 7:59:00 AM

Love this poem, John. An easy seven for me.

John Fleming
Date: 1/10/2015 1:55:00 PM

Thanks, Cona! Your kind comments are very much appreciated! :) john.

Ben Burton

Date: 1/9/2015 3:56:00 PM

A-Ha, so THIS is what poetry looks like! Nice writing. :)

John Fleming
Date: 1/9/2015 7:25:00 PM

Hi, Ben. Thank you for your visit to my poems...pleased to make your acquaintance! :-) john.

John Fleming

Date: 1/9/2015 12:38:00 PM

I have considered substituting the word "swept" for "kept". I may well take up your suggestion Emile. Many thanks for your warm comments! :) john.

Emile Pinet

Date: 1/9/2015 12:34:00 PM

I sense magic when I read this beautiful poem ...it has a life energy that moves me emotionally. Emile. May I suggest a change to this line? "That kept (swept) my lover from her feet"