Followers

Monday, April 8, 2013

Monday as usual, Day 8 of poetry challenge

It is Open Link Monday at the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads, but today's poems (old or new) count toward our poem-a-day for the Toads' April challenge.

I found my book of graph paper and intended to sketch a layout of the house after excess furniture and junk are removed, but, when I opened the book, I found a three-verse poem I wrote I-don't-know-when.  I see I've made the syllable count of each five-line stanza 5-7-5-7-7 but I can't remember why.

It's a sappy sort of springtime thing, with little or no redeeming value except to compare birds with mankind. Sort of oh-I-wish-that-I-could-be a-little-bird-up-in-a-tree. But, with 30 poems to do in 30 days, I takes 'em as I finds 'em, in a book of graph paper, or on the back of an envelope.



Richard Schear photos

day's sky clothed in grey
and night's sky clothed in black
give way to a dawn
of glorious enchantment,
intoxicating the birds.
*
day's sky wrapt in in blue,
bright birds soaring above green,
intoxicate Man
who sighs, unable to fly,
and weeps, chained to earth.
*
Man, the envious,
accomplishes much on Earth:
now flies, dives and soars
while birds, who do not envy,
still sing to welcome the dawn.
by Kay Davies

Photo by Gloria Johal

15 comments:

Marian said...

wow, i love this, Kay! it's perfect, especially the clothed sky. gorgeous.

Kerry O'Connor said...

Wow! I love that bright yellowy-orange bird! Such sights of Spring must inspire poetry.

Kay L. Davies said...

@ Marian — Thanks!

@ Kerry — That's an oriole, probably a Baltimore Oriole. I don't remember seeing them when I was growing up in BC's Okanagan Valley, but my childhood friend Gloria, who still lives there, took photos of this one in her yard.

Jo said...

OMW I LOVE that you were going to another task re your house, and found a poem! Kay,you're the best! I love the "Day's sky wrapt in blue." You're a star and I just hang on every word you say/write. Blessings. Jo

Sherry Blue Sky said...

I love it. Completely!

Janine Bollée said...

I'm glad the lightbox is back: so good to see those lovely images enlarged.

Mara said...

Nice poem and a beautiful bird!

Tammy said...

Your poem, pictures and introduction all made me smile. How do you tell a real writer? She has poems written on graph paper and envelopes!

Kay L. Davies said...

@ Tammy — Thanks, that's a great compliment!
K

Unknown said...

They do not envy... and enviable trait. Ironic.

Penelope Postcards said...

I very much like the rhythm of this poem, Kay, and the last lines in particular are poignant. Seems mankind is always striving while birds are busy being. :)

Jim said...

I like it, Kay. Did you change anything now that you are ____er?

5-7-5-7-7 form is the Tanka, generally used when you have more to say than in a haiku or Senryū. The last two lines are usually a little kicker with a differing thought or an explanation.
..

Kay L. Davies said...

@ Jim — Thanks, Jim, I'll have to make a new note about the tanka, although I'm sure I have it somewhere.
And no, I didn't change anything. Just copied it as I found it on the graph paper!
K

anthonynorth said...

Lovely, feel good words.

Other Mary said...

This ended up quite profound Kay. With all we have we still envy the birds with their freedom, and they do not envy us. What gem you've found!