Open Poetry #35 |
Along the world’s flyways and byways |
Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Along the world’s flyways and byways, we see and hear less feathered friends these days. And the insect choir’s buzzing is quieter in the fields. Someone once asked me, of what importance is their loss? Listen to the sparrows and the swallow’s tales; they know better than I how many less today do fly and they might sing to you some of the reasons why. I remember sleepless nights listening to crickets, and the midnight hoot of an owl in a nearby tree. Just a reverie now, shushed by a too-quiet reality. But silence is not what I wish to hear when strolling past a countryside farm, or hiking amidst the ancients of the forest. But along the world’s flyways and byways, our feathered treasures disappear each year, and too few humans seem to really notice or care. Teach your children to enjoy the rush of listening to a thrush, to laugh at the antics of the crows or the black-capped chickadees, to savor the sight of the rise and fall of a swooping hawk. Someone once asked me, of what importance is their loss? |
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© Copyright 2005 Kathleen Kacy Stafford - All Rights Reserved | |||
Soulfisher Member
since 2005-01-07
Posts 226where ever the fly fishing is good |
Well said KC and unfortunately Im afraid that not enough of us will care before it is too late. |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
http://www.audubon.org/bird/stateofthebirds/ Thank you for reading. There are some measures humans can take to protect the diversity we still have left on this planet, such as providing food and shelter, being pro-active and protecting rare bird habitats. |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
Odd, it is Kacy, that you post this, this morning.. I had a few hours to fish a nearby lake on Saturday night...There were only two other fisherman there...I was dressed in raingear, they in feathers... Two beautiful Ospreys were fishing also...and so I felt a brotherhood..that is the answer to the question at the end of your poem... "of what importance is their loss?" Their loss is important because they are my brothers, and if they dissapear,(I feel then) so do I. Thank you for the poem and your thoughts.... -----------ice/ford ><> |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
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wandering glider Senior Member
since 2001-04-04
Posts 501aloft |
Thanks for the poem ice is right they are our brothers and no amount of human arrogance (the only thing some think they need) will ever make up for their loss (so few of the little migrants here this year . . . and I remember trees filled with many species of warblers . . . but the trees are gone) glider |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Midnitesun All we can do is try. Well done |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Brothers and sisters...yes, the feathered ones are indeed an integral breathing part of the total makeup of Earth's family. Our own futures are closely tied to the plight of their flight. It infuriates me to see people spray and kill as many flying beings as they can, and in our ignorance and insensitivity, we spray and shoot ourselves everywhere along the chain of life. And who professes to know exactly where the circle or chain of life begins/ends? What point on the circle is inviolable, unbreakable? Which dying species will guarantee the doom of all? |
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kayjay Member Elite
since 2002-06-24
Posts 2015Oregon |
This is a fine piece of writing, Kacy! With birds and bugs disappearing so fast, humans can't be far behind. Ken Through rubble and trouble and dark of night |
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Sadelite Member Elite
since 2003-10-11
Posts 2519 |
Midnitesun, I remember the chorus of the bullfrogs at night right before I went to sleep. The bullfrogs seemed to say, "Knee Deep?" to the other frogs in their low octave. The other frogs would seem to answer in a higher pitch, "Rib-bit." Their conversations are sorely missed, as the bullfrogs are disappearing. On the brighter note, we're beginning to see animals that have been re-introduced such as the blue heron, wild turkeys, and beavers. I believe I've heard bobcats and coyotes, as well. Thank you for your heart felt poem. I agree that we constantly need to evaluate what we do to the environment and the species. I'm glad some animals are being reintroduced. Sure would be great if we could turn back time to exercise more caution! |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Ken thank you! Sadie, I enjoyed your bullfrog anecdote! |
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froggy Senior Member
since 2003-06-23
Posts 1893Michigan |
Wonderful read this afternoon. :-) <^^> Today the pond....Tomorrow the world |
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adagio Member
since 2005-03-19
Posts 449Marrero, La. |
I notice and I care.Their value is more than you or I can describe. adagio |
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Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
(big angel hugs) Oh Kacy, bless you for speaking out here against this poor injustice on our feathered friends and insects, sweet friend! (sad sigh) Birds, butterflies and dolphins are three of my favorite creations of God, and all of them are being threatened by the increasing pollution in our air and land! (sad sigh) I'm fortunate to have lived in two communities where air pollution is very low and sparrows and other birds love being to twitter and sing, before in Boulder and now here in Portland, but there are so many other places in the nation where so many forget what their sweet warmble sound like, like in Los Angeles or Houston, where smog levels are excruciating! (sad sigh) Being the optimist I am, and seeing that not everything has went wrong, with black bears back in Connecticut and certain kinds of temperate forests actually having net gains in recent years, I believe it isn't too late to turn things around and spare the lives of baby birds and the next generation of our feathered friends, God Bless You, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Kacy, thank you for sharing! May love and light always shine upon you! Love, Noah Eaton "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other" |
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