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Tranquility
| Open Poetry #48 |
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Tranquility |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa 
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TRANQUILITY 27 October 2012 Perhaps the drongo on the aged bare tree, shared the joyous peace that passeth all understanding pervading her soul as she gazed in wondrous awe at his perfection in the sun, black-cat-black, against an azure sky with her favourite little bouncy, fluffy clouds. Owl |
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| © Copyright 2012 Diana van den Berg - All Rights Reserved | |||
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jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas |
I've heard that in Australia, Drongo is a word used to describe people who act silly, or "crazy", or something similar, apparently because of some action of the Drongo species... I don't remember exactly what, would have to look it up on the internet I guess...but just curious if it's the same with the African Drongo varieties? Anyway ... nicely done, enjoyable piece. j. |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thanks for your reply Jimmy and your interest in drongos. I don’t know anything about Australian drongos, nor did I know that Australians used the word for people, nor why, except that they are brave (though not irresponsibly so, but to an observer that may seem the case). In South Africa, we have 2 types – the fork-tailed (mainly found in open forests and grasslands) and the square tailed (mainly found in dense forests). The one who was in my garden at the conception of my poem was a fork-tailed drongo. Drongos are fearless and aggressive little birds and will often dive-bomb birds of prey much larger than themselves. They can afford to do that as they taste bad and birds of prey don’t eat them. They also mimic other birds – and even animals’ alarm cries and then steal the food they have fled from. Owl |
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
I always love learning something new. I didn't know what a drongo was. Now I do. Sounds like a pretty smart bird to me. Ida |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you, Ida, for enjoying South African nature. Yes, they are smart - and beautiful too - I love them - the perfect proof to the cliché, "Dynamite comes in small packages."  Owl |
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garysgirl  
since 2002-09-29
Posts 19237Florida, USA |
A very interesting poem that I loved reading. Thank you for sharing. Hugs, Ethel |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you, Ethel. Glad you enjoyed it so much. Owl |
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r v wooo Senior Member
since 2007-08-07
Posts 656 |
Owl, thank you for the intro to the fork tail drongo..."Tranquility" brought it to life for me. You have a wonderful compassion for living things. You are in tune with the world around you...I think it is beautiful...the way you touch...and feel...relate and convey... to others. RV |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
What a kind, sweet reply, RV! I am very touched. You turn my rough patches into smiles. I am delighted you enjoyed my dear little drongo. I’m not so good with people, though – animals and birds and frogs and snakes and trees and flowers and the like are so much easier . . . Big Owl |
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luminosity Senior Member
since 2005-11-18
Posts 813 |
i would have to ditto rv...perfect comment on a perfect write |
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Pilgrimage Member Elite
since 2001-12-04
Posts 3945Texas, USA |
Sounds like the drongo is a lot like a mockingbird--they'll attack crows and drive them to the ground. But I don't believe a mockingbird could ever get itself into the peace and utter perfection of the moment that you impute to the drongo. Lovely poem.Nan (Pilgrim variety) |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you, luminosity, for your kind words. Thank you, Nan. Oh, I don't know about that - a mocking bird got into a beautiful and memorable and peaceful song from way back when. I don't remember the title - but part of it goes something vaguely like this: "it gives me a thrill to wake in the morning to a mocking bird song" Do you remember it? Smiles. Owl |
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