Best Red Winged Blackbird Poems
Long to touch the rows u p o n rows of coneflowers,
but the bees, they b u z z, and the butterflies own.
Favorite intrepid host, the red-winged blackbird, towers
over the purpleness of his downturned petal throne.
Eyes flit back and forth as g o l d e n splashes cool
the p i n e y pond of koi. Serenity of zephyr scent
sends introspective id swimming like this school —
no longer in this worrisome world, exhaustion spent.
Traverse the paths of no work, no play - merely a b a n d o n
to holly bushes, lady slippers, roses with whimsical names.
Snowball hydrangeas, blueberries like goose pimples - stand in
the nether of shadow and sun, the hometown of God’s acclaim.
Close my eyes - bluster of multicolored petals from the sky,
cover my i n v i s i b l e frame… uninvited flocks gather
in an undecided decade of “don’t know when or why.”
P o s t u r i n g — shan’t get myself in a botanical lather.
Have faith, the untouchables are thriving with grace,
waiting for the usual feet to pass time, adorn this place.
7/31/2020
Silent one’s Petal, buds, blossoms, bees, birds, butterflies! Poetry Contest
Categories:
red winged blackbird, garden,
Form:
Rhyme
rock to rock
small sips
red winged blackbird takes
leaning towards the sun,
Iris protects....
seed to seed
small sips
bluegill takes
below the surface,
shadows protect....
bar to bar
small sips
humans take
battered and bruised,
memories protect....
Categories:
red winged blackbird, introspection
Form:
I.
The red winged blackbird knows how hard it is for me to connect with humans.
But I can still share my joy over this bird with my mom, who is dying for a way in.
II.
I was just told today by my teacher that I have a learning disability.
I was sad, confused. But my mom, she was “furious” when she heard.
She’s a real go-getter, too, and she went and got them,
Made them stop calling me that.
But now, things are worse.
Teacher Brett doesn’t help me anymore.
He’s helping some other kid.
Things are much harder now.
III.
My name is Betsy and I’m 25-years old.
I love Panda Express orange chicken more than anyone else on the planet.
It isn’t the fanciest restaurant but it’s cheap and I can walk to it. (I hate cooking.)
Without the spirit of inclusion,
The persistence of my parents,
And my high school “inclusion facilitators,”
I’d most likely be institutionalized or in some group home.
Instead I give speeches to crowds of fancy adults
About the power of not giving up, the power of support,
And the path of independence it has provided me.
(Straight to the orange chicken.)
Categories:
red winged blackbird, perspective,
Form:
Free verse
It started with the usual
crows, grackles, starlings,
even the chickadees
were appropriately capped.
Broken up a bit by
a red winged blackbird
and again by cardinal.
But in the woods,
early Mourning Cloaks flitted
while a turkey vulture
circled overhead.
Our black dog plunged
into the ice free pond
but the tawny only dabbled,
then both soaked
the bottom of my jeans.
On a nearby clothesline
a little black dress flapped,
as winter’s hair was shorn
from newly silky legs.
Categories:
red winged blackbird, spring,
Form:
Free verse
Red-winged Blackbird
Look! There in the bulrushes,
Perched at an angle
To the reed,
Is the Red-winged Blackbird,
Keeping a close watch
In his territory.
How do I know it’s a “he”? Easy.
By the jet black plumage
And red, yellow epaulettes
That distinguish him from a “she”.
The female’s feathers are rustic colours
With white patches underneath
And white streaks on the back and wings,
That blend in with the surroundings.
See! I spot her sitting in the nest,
All snuggled in
Keeping her eggs warm.
Quiet,—not moving;
Not wanting anyone
To know where she is.
Listen! And hear his three syllable
‘Oh-ka-leee’cry piercing the air,
Can only mean one thing to his mate;
Love! And he will be there for her.
Slowly, I back away
Not wanting to create
A disturbance,
Or cause undue stress;
For the birds.
Categories:
red winged blackbird, bird, environment, flying, nature,
Form:
Verse
the prickly-eyed coneflower bees
attractively buzzing their squeeze.
the purple petal umbrellas.
a lovely echinacea breeze.
butterflies and hummingbirds hove’.*
red-winged blackbird, high perched above,
does shelter in Eden, his brood.
cones teem with life, vivacious love.
8/24/2022
Eight Lines of Rhyme - Your Favorite Flower
Sponsor: Tania Kitchin
Rhymes checked with rhymezone
aaba rhyme scheme
*hove’ - hover
Categories:
red winged blackbird, bird, flower, imagery, insect,
Form:
Rhyme
a red winged blackbird
barked a sermon
from a cattail pulpit
Categories:
red winged blackbird, bird,
Form:
Haiku
flying over Gulf of Mexico, the boundless tranquil emerald water
not going to stop until I reach my destination ....
the vision of a beautiful country of my dream - where nature captivates with azure sky and serene lakes,
fascinating ~ where my dearest friends are waiting for me!
my friend, Robin, how sweetly she sings at dusk and dawn,
when there is solitude descending over the mountains ~
and Oriole busy weaving intricate hanging nests ...
before the colourful flowers blossom in all their splendour, butterflies passionately kiss ravishing roses ~
trees spread their branches to the sky in ecstasy, lush and green turn grasses ~
I must reach there.
I see a distinctive shape in the sky, which tells me...
my Geese friends are on their way, and also are the high-flier Ducks,
can’t miss the charming song white-throated Sparrow croons ~ My Sweet Canada, Canada, Canada.
Oh! I am so mesmerized the way Great Blue Heron glides in a slow motion,
she is the best in fishing, being the most patient.
Killdeer, Mallard Duck, Red-winged Blackbird -
all welcoming me to join a rendezvous of Spring-birds
Spring is almost here - nature’s joyful symphony will soon fill the air
me, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird - will soar across the ocean~
February 18, 2021
FIRST PLACE
Inspired by " Spring Birds" Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Constance La France
For Personification Poem 150 Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Caren Krutsinger
Categories:
red winged blackbird, bird, spring,
Form:
Personification
Two Red Pines outside my
Window stand ready every day
Bristling with long needles
And runkled cones, still young
My first sound upon awakening
…..The sweet seeee---sawww
Of the Red Winged Blackbird,
Migrating home
Soon, the swamp I navigate daily
On my walk will fill with
Feathered friends-
All of us excited by emerging
Cattails….
Comforted, together
03/04/12
Categories:
red winged blackbird, nature, red,
Form:
Free verse
While strolling on this summer morn so fair
with warming sun rays soft upon my cheeks
and gentle breezes blowing through my hair,
a tender dulcet day without a care,
I deeply ponder thoughts to which life speaks.
A red-winged blackbird floats along the breeze
and lights upon a cattail by the lake;
his trills lamenting sights for which he pleas,
pollution everywhere is all he sees.
I wonder if mankind will e’er awake?
A bullfrog sitting by the water’s edge
upon a lily pad, he croaks his tune
lamenting all around the withered sedge
that’s littered with debris his croaks allege.
I wonder if mankind will wise up soon?
For it is we who, through our careless deeds,
have scarred the beauty of this precious land
to satisfy our selfish greedy needs
without a single thought to where this leads,
intents upon fulfilling our demands.
But are we not the keepers of this earth,
the ones who, nature’s beauty, must preserve
for future generations, giving birth
to Mother Nature’s everlasting worth?
If not then we will get what we deserve.
June 26, 2023
Categories:
red winged blackbird, earth, nature, pollution,
Form:
Rhyme
a red-winged blackbird
quiescent as a flower
until he's riled up
the breeze of his wings
majestic, dictorial
tourist nudged onward
depressed cone flower
with heaviness of his form
far above the nest
the sentry's hawk-eyes
sharp and alert to movement
in city's garden
meanwhile the gal
shares her snapshot and story
over and over
the beauty and rage
of this handsome specimen
illuminated
3/8/2019
Categories:
red winged blackbird, bird,
Form:
Choka
Late April and only
coltsfoot—Tussilago farfara—breaking leaf litter.
Our daffodils, peonies and crocuses
are also making signs.
April is the cruelest month, I forget why.
A sweet slow Spring
no sudden changes
each leg and leaf unfolds deliberately. You can't miss it.
New York City's spring rushes like a yellow cab
into summer. One day leaves are wet,
next they’re leather. I prefer this slow dance,
birds mating on the sky, peepers evolving into frogs.
Repairs take weeks or months. Septic,
garage door, cracked windshield, clean windows,
build bridge, buy land, rake leaves off erosion control,
cut wood, prune lilac, paint lawn chairs.
More carefully inspect, identify, the insect
of the week, a fly with an ant’s body
that skirts the grass and falls in drinks.
Look more closely! It will be gone in a few days!
Then it will be the time of moths or fireflies,
mosquitoes and wasps. Mud road,
red-winged blackbird. The slashing stream
topples old trees. My legs hurt.
Categories:
red winged blackbird, change, city, dance, insect,
Form:
Free verse
All the nature was calm and quiet,
Walks amongst the beautiful green environment.
The sun rose behind a cloudy, blue, sky.
Peered through the tall angular trees.
The conservation area alive with mallard ducks swimming on the lake,
Geese tall, a white and gray black in appearance.
Sounds of nature could be heard,
A blue jay or a red winged blackbird,
Frogs sitting on an old log,
The view from the hill, reverent and sacred.
A summer walk enhanced and beautiful,
Widflowers and bushes surround the lake.
God's beauty hidden,
To be discovered by humanity.
Conversations with relatives and companions,
Complimenting the bright day.
God's blessings continue at an enhanced level,
Filling my day with thankfulness.
Author: Gwen Meyer-Erlach Schutz
Categories:
red winged blackbird, faithnature, nature,
Form:
Free verse
It snowed last night
and spring’s nascent shades
were hidden under a sky of lead,
the cedars, green, cloaked
by a blanket of snow white
framed by tree trunks black.
The swollen stream ran brown not clear,
but the dogwood glistened shiny red
and the Red-winged Blackbird
flared his epaulets of scarlet and yellow
and with his conk-la-ree! loudly proclaimed
his territory in hopes of attracting
a frumpy female who yet malingers
in warmer climes.
Categories:
red winged blackbird, color, snow, spring,
Form:
Free verse
perched on purple coneflower, red-winged blackbird darkens nest
5/31/2018
*darkens - makes less clear
Categories:
red winged blackbird, bird,
Form:
Monoku