One may see puffins and parrots
any hour of the week
both birds bear a big colourful beak
the former pelagic feed on fish
and live in large colonies on coastal cliffs
tho' monogamous collectively breed as a bunch
but with renown as the Atlantic sea clown
in Iceland several are served as lunch
the latter arboreal primarily frugivorous
toco being by far the largest
are opportunistic and occasionally omnivorous
to a few prudes it may seem unseemly or rude
and yet if they stick around they'll later get down
as their chicks are seen to hatch in the nude
these avians may fly high in the sky
have the same such things as two wings and legs
and of each species the female lays eggs
but that's where similarity does stop
one puffin can do more than toucan do
in more or less of a day
after mating its pecker turns grey
and without waiting its bill it will drop
million birds fly in
to high cliffs of yorkshire dale
puffins fish mouthfuls
placed 5th in the contest
The first chirp of the robin near my shut window pleaded
The blackbird, song thrush, chiffchaff, and pheasant pleaded as well.
The sunflowers, cornflowers, and marigolds that needed
Prayed for his help; he was as silent as a silent spell.
Fishes, amphibians, reptiles, and weak invertebrates
Hares, squirrels, owls, puffins, swans, geese, and willow ptarmigan
Lions, leopards, tigers, elephants, and monkeys with rude traits
Prayed; the cosmos seemed as though curled. The sun's silence went on.
As playgrounds were snow-covered, in gloomy moods, children prayed.
Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and cousins called. He said:
When I was shining, your minds seemed seismically swayed.
Can't you, when I am cool, with your inner warmth, march ahead?
Winter's whimsies play vehement games on the sun, so sure
Which element of nature, without him, can their wounds cure?
Been cranking out some crazy dreams
of prehistoric birds in flight
Six foot tall with bills like puffins
looking to roost for the night
One flew into a high line wire did a triple
and slammed to the ground
I stared in amazement as he got to his feet
What He did then would truly astound
Head down he charged in predating gear
To the place that my father stood
Quickly recast by the man that I Wed
Who then stepped out of sight as he should
Another one then caught the sight of me
Pursued me like honey and he was the bee
I ran hard for cover soon to arrive
Struggling to secure the door to the hive
And made it just in time
As his full bodied weight slammed into the door
Clawing he scratched with a deafening roar
I awoke to a silence sublime
Don't know why you need to know this
Just somehow feel you do
Sleep tight tonight don't let
monster birds bite and swallow you without a chew
The title has been taken by kind permission of Valsa George’s “Sweet Memories” for which I thank and dedicate my poem to Valsa George for her friendship.
We were lying on the sand,
Listening to the soft murmur
Of short and light cool waves.
Above us, a red octagonal sun umbrella
Gave us the much-desired rest.
Far away a bunch of guillemots
Cross swiftly across the tranquil bay
To rest near a sturdy lighthouse.
Whilst puffins nest in burrows in the cliffs.
My wife noted the activity of birds
As some flew around the lighthouse.
She wanted to go and investigate
But it was too hot to trek up the cliff.
We’ll go at sunset, darling, I coaxed her.
The sea will be purplish red
Whilst boats began their trip home,
Their sails so crimson as the sun begins to set.
So, we packed all into our SUV,
And slowly wound our way
Amongst the thriving fields.
In our small cottage we had some tasty fare
And after a shower returned to bed.
Then that nightfall we returned to the lighthouse.
Oh, what a sight we enjoyed.
Till late at night, we admired the vista.
How happy and elated we were as we headed home.
is a mass hysteria
induced by the sound
of Indies short-tailed crickets mating,
not, as conspiracy would have it,
the result of a sonic weapon,
a microwave attack,
or malfunctioning eavesdropping equipment.
Likewise, the Sausalito Hum
was not a snooping Russian sub,
or newly laid electric cable.
No, blame the love sick plainfin midshipman,
a simple toadfish sounding off like a foghorn.
Pay no attention to the banshee cry of the lynx,
or to the brush-tail possum sounding off like machinery grinding,
not to puffins like chainsaws,
not to cheetahs chirping,
not to koalas bellowing,
not to ptarmigans chatting like cartoon characters.
Stories of spying and international espionage might be exciting,
but Mother Nature is much more surprising!
Inspired by "Animals Keep Creating Mysteries by Sounding Weird", Ed Yong, The Atlantic, January 8, 2019.
I will wander like a gypsy seeking wisdom,
I will find it in each little knowledge system;
Each hair of beauty I'll split like a small atom,
And find in them the secrets hidden like stratum...
The world has wondrous places resembling heaven,
Like Bocas, Ha’apais, Tonga, Ya’mon or Devon;
Sailing by luxury cruisers boats and love yachts,
I'll make - waves and whales - stern companions of my sports...
Lying on roses, lilies, and hyacinths grand,
I'll sip the sacred nectar secretes like thin strand;
Like a butterfly or dragonfly, I’ll hover,
Savoring the sharp shrill subtle season-shower...
My movements are like swimming within clouds shallow,
And bathing within seas of heavenly hallow;
May sun and moon, like angels, guard my flimsy way,
May each ray that gleams like thousand lights, idyll-sway...
Milky Way, like grand seas, waters of blessings bring,
May Jays, Buntings, puffins, and pheasants, for me, sing;
Cosmos, like a wind instrument, mingle my voice,
May new heaven and earth in my great joys rejoice...
14 September 2021
IDYLL THOUGHTS Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: John lawless
My child has a love of poetry
It is rare, for she is only nine.
In her bare mind, words are potpourri
floating, rhyming by stanza, by line.
Holding a book ever so tightly
(it relieves the raw ache in her chest),
my sweet Emma floats almost nightly
carried by puffins in a bird nest.
She paints her pictures lying in bed
dreaming up puffin activities.
Writing what's in the front of her head,
one of her common proclivities.
Her situation stems from asthma
of pet hair and seasonal rebirth.
She fancies ease from the miasma,
high above noxious coughing on earth.
Starting with nursery rhymes at three
we have read Silverstein and Dahl
both of us memorize easily.
Her choice today is Lewis Carroll.
My Emma lives in her Wonderland
especially with a nebulizer.
Her teachers all seem to understand
it's “down to earth” math that defies her.
August 23, 2021
Sponsor Regina McIntosh
Contest Name The One Who Touches My Heart
Puffins and Parakeets
Starlings and Sparrows
Hummingbirds and Hoopoes
Cardinals and Cochoas
Their colors flashing
Songs edifying
Perching and resting
or airborne flying
They trill us and thrill us at night
Wing their way through the day
Soaring high in tranquil blue skies
or huddling in trees when it rains
Indigenous Americans, their feathers treasure
These frequent flyers give man such great pleasure
The nature whispered to me
With the sweetest charm and
With a delightful heart
About the charms of the night sky
And the gleaming of the stars
That would cherish her soul to the brightest
The nature whispered to me
Telling me all about her little puffins
That sour on all sides of horizon
Adoring the essence of the terrain
And also about her little friends in sea
That surfs through all the moana
Relishing the warmth of the sky tint ocean
And in all those whispers and talk
My heart bonded together with soul of nature harbouring her goodwill and zeal with it
There’s a simple explanation,
for the great perpetuation,
of the idea around the nations,
that Santa knows everything kids do.
His snow globe is a crystal,
it’s not artificial,
but it’s beneficial;
through it he can view you.
Even little penguins,
with their lovely beak-grins,
dolphins, bears and puffins,
find stockings full of stuff’ins too.
So when you make your wish,
just ask for your favorite fish,
I asked for a lantern-fish dish;
‘cause it’s my favorite food.
It was the only fine day during a week
near Ullapool; a chance to launch for a sail.
Out off the Summer Isles a breeze we did seek,
being relieved there was no longer a gale.
Then half a mile to the north a splash we saw.
Was it? Might it be? Could one be found right here?
Then up came a spout and we were filled with awe.
Another one confirmed that it might come near.
We looked at each other – should we be afraid?
Around us there were guillemots, razor bills
and puffins, yet not one of them seemed dismayed,
so we relaxed and anticipated thrills.
So towards us it swam, breaking the surface,
spouting again, till it was just over there,
some sixty feet distant. No longer nervous
we reckoned its length to our boat did compare.
And so it passed south as we were held in wonder.
Ashore we determined the species of whale
was a minke, sure it could not be under
sixteen feet. I recount this memorable tale.
calm days oceans fit
dress coastlines in white lace
treacherous... the storm
on the wind it glides
oceans of the south surveyed
albatrosses feed
penguins flighty birds
cross ice bellies down... feet push
water... flight masters
aquatic parrots
puffins come to land to breed
Icelanders eat them
oceans deep smokers
new life evolves... dies when stubbed
potential islands
iguanas
some vegetarians
dive oceans to feed
sea mammals... furry
all once murdered for their coats
babies clubbed to death
great auks... now extinct
flightless... netted then eaten
man still hasn't learnt
The other Church
Kai - Pembrokeshire
Way back beyond the crested waves that spill the ocean
‘Church Rock’ towers with puffins and seagulls singing
the tune of nature how many times have I prayed to God
Tai - Southbroom
When times are rough she takes the image and sits on
the rocks in silent meditation where the tussle of spray
paints her sorrows with birdsong and healing embrace
When the surf had taken me below rocks and foundations
I asked to help out at the soup kitchen to lighten my load
emerge from darkness but ‘sorry we do not need you here'
When she had her first child out of wedlock the pastor
said ‘you are evil this must be Satan’s child’ and again
there was no meagre space at the inn for illegitimate joy
The Buddha rocked me gently into a cumbersome slumber
and Tai was embraced by the Jewish community and showered
with food and clothes for the miracle child starred with David
Tai and Kai – the Universe
There is love beyond borders and the sky is the limit the waters
flow freely from source to the sea and when hypocrisy beckons
there is elsewhere a church called kindness compassion and love
15th February 2017
Mingling multiplying minnows marvel masterfully and jaded hooded jalapenos race to the scene. For a pretty fortress is unveiled to a mass highway injection. In a timed spring curve heap hats. In a basting tree wear a nice vest with some heels. As a storm passes remember that a nine inch dome bowl is often a domesticated chatter box and holds vast amounts of information and instructional words to many a passing mouse. So always put leaves in a soup. Wear a spade and trowel. Mix a temple with a house to form associations of a flowery day. Snowing is great fun for those pickled and pins can win in toboggan competitions in world wide juxtaposition. Is merely a global push. A capitalist catapulting cavey. An orchestra of a self shrouded mission bomb. Swooping swerving swimming in acres of grasslands. Timelords. Tinkering. Tinkling. Tin. Tan. Ton. Tone. Dare to cross a washing line of over 800 metres. Balance on a scone. Sit on a sandwich. Or swim in a broth. Cavity carnal caves creating clapping dance. 3% of an oceanographic octopus at a grand ball. Oh how quite exquisite. Punky puffing puffins. Opulence. Orifices of domestic fishes. Cinema of calibration. *** moonbeams
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