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Open Poetry #47
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Mr. Blue Jay
| Open Poetry #47 |
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Mr. Blue Jay |
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jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas 
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 Mr. Blue Jay What happened, what quirk, what joke did nature play, accident, or deliberate shot by B-B gun? Must have been, surely had to have been, an act of God, for past lives lived, to shorten this one to summer's end. Oh pretty jay, blue as sky, could have caught you, trimmed your bill, but then, it would have grown back again. Could have caged you and saved your life, but you where so ebullient; to curb your freedom would have been the greater sin. I watched each day as the crossing grew, and feeding was no longer easy to do, I saw your feathers lose their trim, grow ragged, unkempt and then, Fall's crisp air, frost on the ground . . . and I never saw you again. © wesley james beard, jr. march 2011 Note: First saw this Blue Jay (notice the beak) last summer when his beak was just barley crossed. I really think this was a birth defect, not an accidental, or purposeful act. It was a first year bird. It’s beak gradually grew and the bird grew quite adept at finding ways to eat. At the stage this picture was taken it could still scoop up some things with it’s lower beak and toss it back into it’s throat, but it was a hit or miss thing. It’s feathers were really beginning to suffer from lack of preening and I knew it would not survive much longer. Altogether I saw it come into full adult plumage, over a period of about 3 months, as a very active, alive and boisterous bird … and then one day, never saw it again. j. |
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| © Copyright 2011 Wesley James Beard, Jr. - All Rights Reserved | |||
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
I hate these kind of stories. Not dumping on you for telling it, I just hate these kind of stories. ~ If you don't want gays in the military, make the uniforms ugly. ~ |
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BluesSerenade Member Patricius
since 2001-10-23
Posts 10549By the Seaside |
Awww, but you were inspired so nicely. Thanks enlightening me too.  |
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
This poor little magnificent birdie has come to touch our hearts, you see. It must have been heartwrenching for you to see him struggle and to decide to not cage him. I am sure he would have been unhappy, especially as you say that he was so vivid and buoyant as long as you had the chance to watch him. Sometimes nature is cruel, we know, but I refuse to think such things happen because of karmic reasons. This reminded me of a little bird that had fallen from the nest and I had taken it home hoping to save it. I felt an overwhelming tenderness when I held it in my palm trying to feed him after asking a vet friend for advice. But it was too weak and peeped for a last time right in my hand. I understood it meant "thank you for trying ...". I remember crying for hours. But in the night I dreamt of him, he was singing happily sitting on a hedge and next to him there was my smiling uncle. That meant "see everything is all right now, we are happy here together in this new dimension". It was so peaceful and comforting. This was so poignant, dear Jimmy. Love, Margherita "Love is the One who masters all things; |
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EmmaRose Senior Member
since 2011-03-02
Posts 1376Midwest |
O how the tiny treasures of God's great earth touch us in the deepest way. May you always have such tender compassion for those that open our hearts in sometimes uncomprehensible ways |
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Honeybunch Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-29
Posts 7115South Africa |
Makes all my problems seem small. Such sadness in nature and perhaps you had to see and write so we could be grateful for our lives. Thank you for sharing. Helen |
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Alison 
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
You have moved me to tears with your poem. The photograph is incredible. Jimmy, I feel so damn lucky to be able to share poetry with you here. I really enjoy reading (and seeing) your work. A |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Sobbing about your blue jay and Margherita's little bird and her friend, Lise. Owl |
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jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas |
Most people don't see the 'defects' in wildlife, mostly because wildlife doesn't survive debilitating defects like humans do - and they're not blown away in the media unless it's a two-headed this or that. Observation will net quite a few broken legs in birds (it's one of the few most survive if broken, particularly in the featherless part of the leg(actually the part of our foot between the ankle and toes). The others most visible are eye damage and albinism, partial or full. Most anything else is sure death. Anyway, suffice it to say I was happy for the photo opportunity and the observation of this jay's life. Thanks very much for your reads... j. |
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