Sunday 23 May 2021

Entitled


 



Some days the sill’s empty. Some days it’s full.

Sparrows perch. A pigeon. A spotted dove.

Children’s laughter splashes around the pool,

clear summer skies if you cared to look up.

 

Sometimes the sill’s empty, sometimes birds stop by -

sometimes unknown raptors after a hard kill

wipe their beaks off before taking flight

nervous others stay far, on a parallel

 

ledge. But look closer, the sill’s not empty

the moults of bugs, dried palm spikes, a feather

signal what’s been. Less romantic bird droppings

pock mark the beige concrete. It was never

 

empty, just that you’ve trained, entitled your eyes

to look for doves, pigeons, laughter, clear blue skies.







16 comments:

  1. Hari Om
    Ah yes, rose-tinted specs... YAM xx

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    1. The inner lens is also tinted :) double the rose.

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  2. Soothing poetry today, Nila. Thank you. Birds visit my lanai (back porch) each day, looking for handouts. When I toss out crumbled Ritz crackers, it turns into a feeding frenzy - only doves, though, the nervous ones like mynah birds and cardinals don't stay long.

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    1. That sounds heavenly. Thanks for being here.

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  3. Oh, no - wherever there are birds, there will always be something more.

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    1. Haha yeah, not all of it as welcome or as pretty.

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  4. Hi Nila - so true ... we need to look more - so much appears hidden to many unlooking eyes. Well also really true we have guano-enriched wealthy peoples here (William Gibbs - 1800s) ... but I agree it's pretty horrid to see a new splodge on the pavement, or to watch as a splishy lump appears nearby ... I had one on my head once - but had to so something first before I could wash it off! Fun days ... but the bird song is delightful ... we can hear it. Life goes on as you remind us of that ... wonderful though provoking poetry - cheers Hilary

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    1. Guano and other animal...ahem, excreta are super useful things...shouldn't forget that. Doves and sparrows make a right mess of balconies and sills here, but the birdsong as you say compensates for much evil haha. I've had that splodge on meself too, even once is too many! Glad you liked the poetry. Hope your week is going well.

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  5. This poem amused me. You always paint the big picture and then just zero in on the little punchline...the little things we take for granted.

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    1. Glad you liked it, thanks. The little things are what make life meaningful. And a bit more bearable this pandemic.

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  6. A wonderful poem for me to discover today. There are always layers to discover with everything. Sometimes it feels like the world is the most amazing library, always offering something for us to see, to learn, to be amazed by.

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    1. Love that imagery of the world being a library of amazement! Thank you.

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  7. We don't know the story of our outdoor belongings except for the 1% (or less) of times we pay attention. And when we pay attention, it is hardly ever full attention to every detail. Loved your poem.

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    1. Thank you. Full attention to small details and taking pleasure in them - is probably the only sure path to happiness! :)

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