Notes About The Poem

Originally published: 20th January 2023

Image by gR

As featured in the Poetry Soup Anthology:

"Reflections on the Important Things"


The Wetlands

as swallows land and swifts take flight
inside late noon’s last shards of light
the chill winds that descend on day
cause dense green swathes of reeds to sway
across the flooded vista’s ground
in harmony with nature’s sound
of shrills that echo through the air
from birds and insects everywhere
while stars with room to breathe and shine
light up a land divorced from time
to show the beauty and true worth
of life in balance here on earth.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2023


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

Date: 7/16/2025 12:30:00 PM
very nice, Gary. Congrats in Brian's contest
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 7/17/2025 9:37:00 AM
Thank you Andrea. I tend only to enter contests that allow the older poems these days so it was nice to see this place. Cheers - Gary
Date: 1/19/2024 8:43:00 AM
a lovely poem that you share. love iambic tetrameter. in wetland hills we now suffer. we pray it not last forever. for soon will come springtime weather. and better times we then will share.
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 1/20/2024 2:17:00 AM
Hi Tony. Thanks for your comments. I find iambic tetrameter easier to work with than most rhyming forms. Using eight syllables per line really helps the flow for me. Just as in your example too. (I couldn't agree more by the way - roll on spring) Cheers - Gary
Date: 1/15/2024 7:13:00 PM
Beautiful and elegant. Love the images, rhythm, and rhyme.
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 1/16/2024 2:14:00 AM
Thanks Carol. Good luck with your pamphlet! :) Cheers - Gary
Date: 9/4/2023 10:41:00 AM
What a lovely poem, rarely see such excellent rhyming.
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 9/4/2023 10:11:00 PM
I appreciate your lovely comments Linda. Cheers - Gary
Date: 8/19/2023 1:35:00 PM
Excellent rhyme poetry, Gary. Your poem was balance and smooth reading. The imagery was eloquent. Thanks for the visit to my poetry, and for the mindful comments, my friend. Have a great weekend! A poet friend in Texas, Bill
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 8/20/2023 2:00:00 PM
Thanks Bill. It's a pleasure to read your comments here and it was a pleasure to read your poem 'The Costly Choice Of Revenge' recently. Cheers - Gary
Date: 4/16/2023 8:27:00 PM
It's so strange, Gary. Before I turned to your page, I thought: I need to read some of Gary's to give me a sense of balance in this crazy world, and your last lines are: "to show the beauty and true worth of life in balance here on earth." Thanks! :)
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 4/17/2023 12:10:00 AM
Hi Ann. Thank you. What a coincidence and it's great to think my poems can help to bring a sense of balance :) I always appreciate your visits Ann. Cheers - Gary
Date: 3/28/2023 6:45:00 AM
A beautiful flowing rhyme Gary. I see every word you've written! :)
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 3/28/2023 1:49:00 PM
Mission Accomplished! :) Thanks so much Linda. Read you soon. Cheers - Gary
Date: 3/19/2023 7:51:00 PM
Terrific homage to wetlands, too often dismissed as mosquito heavy swamps. I have 50 acres on the Canadian Shield, much of it wetlands. I fear the next owner will simply fill in these flood plains. A beautifully rhymed poem, Gary, + a much needed environmental reminder. Be well. Brian
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 3/20/2023 2:43:00 AM
Thanks Brian. Wow! 50 acres. Thank you for playing such an important role in maintaining nature's balance. Cheers - Gary
Date: 2/22/2023 4:29:00 AM
a worthy painting on any wall where one can sit and admire the mastery of God's Hand in creation's grand existence....nice job Gary
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 2/23/2023 12:55:00 AM
Thank you Timothy. I love the idea that a picture can be painted from a pallet of words. Cheers- Gary
Date: 2/12/2023 3:31:00 PM
tranquil and gorgeous; such musicality in your lines..congrats on your win in the contest with this lovely piece.:)
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 2/13/2023 5:58:00 AM
Thanks Charlotte. You've described everything I wanted to describe beautifully..beautifully. :) Cheers - Gary
Date: 2/6/2023 10:33:00 AM
Gary, congratulations on your win! You have so beautifully conveyed the quiet beauty of the wetlands in words of peace, serenity and quiet - so quiet the spells of the birds and buzzing insects can seep into our souls. This poem is a picture of balance! I have experienced this walking on a levee near our home. It is a marine preserve! Wonderfully done! So happy to see it on the winners list! Sending you blessings and cheers.
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 2/7/2023 3:04:00 AM
Hi Sam! I was reading your reply and noticed that word 'levee'...and then I was transported back to 1971 and Don McLean's 'American Pie': "Drove my chevy to the levee.." so had to google the word...52 years of not knowing what a particular word meant but not bothering to look it up either and all it took was a Ms Sam Kauffman reply to a poem of mine. :) Thank you for that..and of course your other lovely comments. Cheers - Gary
Date: 2/4/2023 8:18:00 PM
Gary, I love your pleasing, peaceful, picturesque description of the wetlands. The ending is brilliant because you highlight the wetlands’ importance in maintaining balance in the ecosystem. A Fave Poem for me. Congratulations on your excellent win on Mile 26 of my 2022 Poetry Marathon. Your support of my contest has contributed to its success, and for that I am very grateful. Poets who have qualified to enter the Qualifiers' FINAL Placement Contest are being notified by Soup Mail.
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 2/5/2023 12:22:00 PM
Thank you Mark for my placement and your comments. Thanks, too, for having the stamina to run such a contest. Cheers - Gary
Date: 2/4/2023 5:54:00 PM
Dear Gary, I am enchanted by the beauty of your rhythmic, rhyming, vividly expressive poem. A delight for the senses and a balm for the soul. Your appreciative pen captures the wetlands with exquisite finesse. Congratulations for your excellent win in Mark's contest. Warmest wishes, my friend.. ~Susan
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 2/5/2023 12:20:00 PM
Thank you Susan! Your lovely comments are very much appreciated. "..a balm for the soul"..I love that phrase :) Cheers - Gary
Date: 2/3/2023 4:16:00 PM
I’ve spent so many glorious starlit nights sat at lakesides like this, but could never have done them justice as you have here, Gary. Brilliantly depicted. Terry
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 2/4/2023 5:27:00 AM
Thanks Terry. I disagree though. You've done justice to all your poetry subjects so far. Cheers - Gary
Date: 2/1/2023 8:57:00 AM
Unfortunately some only see swamps to be drained, and just don't appreciate what is at stake each time this happens. Very important poem that highlights what exists in these places, that is worth saving. We also cannot underestimate the importance of mangroves in the scheme of things. Beautifully done Gary. May 2023 be a good year for you. All the best David in NZ
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 2/2/2023 3:02:00 AM
Thanks for the great comments David and I hope 2023 is a good year for you and your family too. Cheers - Gary
Date: 1/27/2023 7:00:00 AM
You paint a lovely picture Gary. Your last line refers to life in balance here on Earth. We must pray that will long continue, in spite of Mankind’s disruptive efforts. A great write. Well done.
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 1/28/2023 2:17:00 AM
Thanks Peter. You are so right about maintaining some sort of balance. The older I get the more unsure I get that we can. It's as if it's a case of the world eating itself at the moment. Cheers - Gary
Date: 1/22/2023 10:57:00 AM
Beautiful and appealing to to our senses, Gary. It deserves a painting and a video to go with it. I like poems that flow and rhyme like this one. ~ Best regards // paul
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 1/22/2023 11:42:00 PM
Thank you very much Paul. I'm blown away by your wonderful comments. Cheers - Gary
Date: 1/22/2023 7:33:00 AM
This is such a beautiful landscape you have portrayed dear Gary . Each nuance exposed for us to revel at and take in, complete with visual and audible impact ! I love it ! A moment in time revealed by your talented pen ! Susan :)
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 1/22/2023 11:36:00 PM
Thanks so much Susan. I got the idea for the poem looking out of a train window as it went over a bridge. The wetland I saw looked beautiful; calm, quiet and just poem worthy. :) Cheers - Gary
Date: 1/22/2023 6:47:00 AM
I actually read this earlier today Gary, and thought it beautifully balanced. I'm now glad to see it in Brian's contest. Congratulations on your win! :)
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 1/22/2023 11:33:00 PM
Hi Linda.Thank you. I've edited the poem since I first wrote it so the chances are it may have changed since you first read it. I'm really pleased you really like it. Cheers - Gary
Date: 1/22/2023 4:29:00 AM
You really captured the beauty of wetlands, Gary….which are such an important ecological component of geography. They should all be made preserves. There are enough hotels onshore so I say leave them for the birds. Best, SuZ
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 1/22/2023 11:27:00 PM
Thank you Suz. I totally agree with you regarding such places being made preserves but sadly that relies on human beings putting the future of such places before profit. Rant over. :) Thanks again. Cheers - Gary
Date: 1/21/2023 2:44:00 PM
Beautifully described,Gary with a rhythmic flow I really appreciated.
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 1/21/2023 11:03:00 PM
Thank you Wendy. I truly appreciate your valued comments. Cheers - Gary
Date: 1/20/2023 2:27:00 PM
Wow Gary, you described the wetlands so perfectly. We have a problem here some of our wetlands are drying up, and thousands of huge Ibis are making their homes in residential trees, resting on house rooves and in back yards....... Your poem is delightful.
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 1/20/2023 9:54:00 PM
Thanks Wendy! I've amended a few words since your comments and I'm happier now with the overall message of the poem. The wetlands, flood plains etc are wonderful ecosystems. It's sad to hear about some of Australia's wetlands are drying up..I'm sure it's the same the world over. I googled an ibis. I'd heard of them but couldn't picture one - like an avocet here in the UK. Thanks again and read you soon. Cheers - Gary
Date: 1/20/2023 11:00:00 AM
can just see it and feel the serenity in your flowing rhyme.. enjoyed :)
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 1/20/2023 11:05:00 AM
Thanks Susan. I'm almost there with the finished piece. Your comments are most welcome. Cheers - Gary
Date: 1/20/2023 6:00:00 AM
Sounds a very tranquil place Gary, as long as you dress for the weather its enjoyable. Enjoy your weekend. Tom
Login to Reply
Radice Avatar
Gary Radice
Date: 1/20/2023 9:01:00 AM
It is..or it was Tom before I changed it around a bit - probably the same time you were writing your lovely comments :) It's one of those poems that I'm not sure about. I wanted to capture the beauty and tranquility of a wetlands but I'm not sure I'm there with it yet. :) Cheers - Gary
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Reflection on the Important Things

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter