SONNET FOR WINDS OF CHANGE
Cross cirrus sky swift brush strokes paint mares' tails
Tree tops are in restless susurration,
While cumbrous clouds traverse in vapour trails
Mead grass is fanned in wild undulation
Lake face whipped to agitated motion
Plumes roughed, wildfowl voyage with discretion
Gulls in-land tell of wild storms on ocean
All braced to face nature's bare aggression
When young I chose such rugged medium
Deplored the concept then of perfect peace
Such state suggested endless tedium
Hazard preferred to slow drawn out release
While I now sometimes seek respite from strife
I yet love winds that change, give breath to life
~~~~~~~~
climate change... killing
spring bees... spiders many flies
early nesters starve
once joy the seasons...
the charm of springs overture...
winter defies it...
today... house sparrows
seen nesting... nature wishes...
hopeful they succeed...
grass... verdant... growing...
hedgerows holding back... afraid...
full spring biding time
jet stream...rioting
lost its way... meandering
disturbing nature
the hill piste lingered
children smiled... sledging... what fun
comes the rain... flooding
hot then cold weather
flu viruses all favor...
hope you had your jab...
don't stop feeding birds...
wild mammals too... squirrels nuts...
rats... mice... wildfowl grain
wintertime walking...
shush... have your camera ready
seen... a snowy owl
lincolnshire
just in case one thinks i've jumped
the north atlantic
~~~~~~~~~
SONNET FOR A WINDY DAY
‘cross cirrus sky swift brush strokes paint mares' tails
O'er restless tree tops’ anxious susurration,
The cumbrous clouds traverse in vaporous trails
Below, grasses are fanned - wild undulation
Lake surface whipped to agitated motion
Wildfowl, plumes ruffled pilot with discretion
Gulls inland now tell angry storms on ocean
All braced and taught by nature's bare aggression
When young I grasped such fury in each medium
Deplored concept and sense of perfect peace
Such state seemed recipe for endless tedium
Chose hazard over slow drawn out release
Now sometimes yearning for respite from strife
I embrace and risk winds that give breath to life
Natures presence everywhere embracing, strolling in the park.
Rowboats glide on mirrored waters, picturesquely passing by.
Perfume lingers from sweet blossoms, floating on the summer air.
Noisy wildfowl busy feeding, begging scraps of food from tables.
Gentle breezes drowsing senses, leaving feelings so sublime.
Faces skywards rising upwards, gaze as chidren fly their kites.
Now close your eyes and listen to the sound, it's nature calling,
Sunlights loving warm caresses, to bless this earthly paradise.
George Seal 9/ 1/ 2015.
Conceived in nineteen forty six
By naturalist, Sir Peter Scott,
This wetland paradise now thrives
And teems with ducks and geese and swans.
The wild geese drew Scott to the marsh,
The flood plain of the river Severn,
Where countless wintering wildfowl stop
Upon their migratory journey.
There’re nine varieties of swan
And more than twenty types of geese,
Not to mention ducks by the dozen
With varying plumage through the seasons.
Flamingos, elegant on stilts,
Gather gregariously together.
They make a brilliant splash of colour,
Frome palest pink to brightest orange.
Some stars will often steal the show –
The friendly Nene (Hawaiian Goose);
No fear of man, almost extinct,
Till Scott encouraged breeding pairs.
That shrill cacophony of sound
Which drifts across the shining lake
Is made by happy Whistling Ducks
That yearn to share their thrill of life !
Andean Geese in regal splendour,
Proud pairs that strut upon the shore,
Each one so full of self-importance
That smaller ducks will keep well clear.
Our visit now is near its end;
We bid farewell to feathered friends
And leave with glowing memories
Of Slimbridge on the Severn marsh.
Each year migrating pairs
Return to the wetlands to breed
To join the resident inhabitants
Who have never felt the need
Frantically honking Geese
Ducks and Swans of assorted breeds
Nesting Wildfowl of every kind
Using the seclusion of the reeds
And in the rich wetlands
The multitude can readily feed
Tiny wavelets on the pool today, a gentle
breeze and raindrops fall with a rhythmic
pitter patter. The ducks and wildfowl pay
no heed, around the sedge bob and feed.
The Heron standing as if frozen, his
cunning eye a prey has chosen. And the
elegant Swan glides, the Cormorant
beneath the water slides. And the grey
clouds float on by on this quiet day at the
pool, the reeds sway and insects hide away,
dry wings are required to survive. The Otter
on its back dines on an unlucky Crayfish,
seems well at ease with his surrounds, and
the Water Vole enters a hole to the squeak
of hungry mouths. In the centre of the pool
a love dance, two Crested Grebes court,
ducking, bobbing, all magic to the eye. All
this beauty in the pitter patter, life goes on
it does not matter. Nature gives in many
ways, and as always this heart enslaves.
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