The Swallow--Second Time Around

How to Join	Member's Area	Private Library	Search	Sanctuary		Login
Main Forums	Discussion	Tech Talk	Mature Content	Archives	A home without a wall, Our haven without ends, A circle we all call Our Family of Friends!

Joyce Johnson

Member Rara Avis

since 2001-03-10

Posts 9912
Washington State

0 posted 2001-07-27 07:36 PM

Well, aren't you the little trickster,
I thought we had said our goodbye.
You'd raised your lovely family
And taught them so well, how to fly.

I grabbed my brushes and bucket
And put them to very good use;
Busily cleaning your leavings.
Gross hospitality abuse.

I didn't tear down your modest home;
Remembering how you would glide
Into its mysterious depths.
His mud castle, a swallow's pride.

But now a shadow overhead,
Straight to your nest and settled in.
One good job deserves another.
A new family will begin.

I, with proprietary pride,
Observe you and your faithful mate,
Freshening and making repairs
While latest nestlings you await.

I can't see in your little haven.
You have raised it up there so high.
My head hits on the porch ceiling;
Your home's too far above my eye.

And now I see you are bringing
The first sacrificial insect;
For those little mouths awaiting
And they're wide open, I suspect.

Too soon, I know the day will come
When you leave, will not reappear;
And once again with pail and brush,
I will clean for another year.

I've researched and I know full well,
All the hardship you will go through,
To return to this very spot,
I shall keep in reserve for you.

I'm humbled that you think my house
So worthy of such sacrifice;
Winging so far to this gray wall
To raise a new family twice.

And when at last you fly away
To that distant and warmer clime,
Your bare nest will stay to remind
Of your return in sweet springtime.

By: Joyce Johnson, July 2000

[This message has been edited by Joyce Johnson (edited 07-27-2001).]

Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis

since 1999-11-08

Posts 9269
Pennsylvania

1 posted 2001-07-28 05:50 AM

Yes, swallows do tend to return to the same spot.
THis is a warming poem
I loved it!
Liz

Trillium

Member Patricius

since 2001-03-09

Posts 12098
Idaho, USA

2 posted 2001-07-28 11:10 PM

How safe that swallow must feel at your house Joyce. It's always pleasant to have birds around even if we do have to clean up after them at times. Hope it returns next year.

Betty Lou Hebert

2dalimit
Member Elite

since 2000-02-08

Posts 2228
Mississippi coast

3 posted 2001-07-29 09:14 AM

Your observations are so pleasing to read. Thank you for the view.

Melton

childomine
Senior Member

since 2000-01-25

Posts 818
st. petersburg, FL

4 posted 2001-07-29 09:37 AM

This is wonderful. To appreciate beauty and life in all it's forms, even when it causes some hardship, is what we all should do.

Denise

Moderator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-08-22

Posts 22648

5 posted 2001-07-29 07:17 PM

Very nice poem, Joyce!

	⇧ top of page ⇧
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format.