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| Red-winged Blackbird, Wikimedia Commons |
The sky played a trick,
impeding my flight—
dealing my doom.
The worm did not cry,
escaping to the depths
of a joyous homecoming.
Faces in the sky
of my sunset
held their breaths for me,
but brains
do not re-enter skulls;
and trash bags become funerary.
At least
I do not die alone
and without mourners.
Copyright © 2013 Jennifer Wagner
For Peggy’s prompt at Poetry Jam
where the prompt is to write from the perspective of an animal. This incident happened a couple of weeks
ago. A red-winged blackbird flew into
our picture window so forcefully it could not recover. The worm in its beak fell out and crawled
away. The bird, though so fatally
wounded, struggled heartily. My boys were mostly fascinated by the scene and
the science of it all. But as the only female
in a household of boys and men, it tore my heart a bit.
Oh, this is sad, Jennifer. I want to cry for this little red-winged blackbird and its sad fate. Things like this happen all too often, I fear. You wrote it well.
ReplyDeleteHard to watch it struggle like that in its final moments. Poor thing. Thanks Mary.
DeleteJennifer, my heart cries too any time a bird hits a window--sometimes they make it but usually not. I love red-winged blackbirds their beautiful flashes of red and their distinctive song. Never seen a worm fall out of their beak and crawl away though--that was something! Boys have a way of just grooving on the science of it don't they? This is a beautiful poem.
ReplyDeleteThey are so lovely, especially up close. Love those striking colors. It was so surprising about the worm! Never have seen that before. I bet you have seen all sorts of interesting things while birding, that's such a cool hobby. Makes me think about doing it myself.
DeleteFaces in the sky of my sunset... I can just see your boys heads together, fascinated - and you near tears. Yes, at least the bird had mourners.
ReplyDeleteI admit I had to look away for a bit...the struggling against death was a bit hard to watch.
DeleteThat is sad when this happens ~ We wrote about birds
ReplyDelete:-)
Loved your beautiful piece Grace.
Deletepoor bird; I imagine the worm wouldn't cry, unless it was one of happiness that it might now see another day. lovely poem.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you're right about the worm! :)
Deleteoh i can imagine that is did...so sad to see life lost no matter if it human or animal...i found 'but brains
ReplyDeletedo not re-enter skulls;
and trash bags become funerary.' to be evocative...
You are right...difficult to see the dying.
DeleteReally sad scene painted in beauty. Had a similar experience but with a happier ending when a bird flew into our patio doors. I watched as it lay on the ground for at least ten minutes and was beginning to think about the clear-up operations when it twitched a muscle and gradually "came back to life" before flying off. Sad when it doesn't work out like this though :(
ReplyDeleteWe waited too, but too much damage sustained by the little thing. Glad you had a much better outcome!
DeleteVery very sad for the poor bird, but one very lucky worm!...a great write, described brilliantly in so few words:-))
ReplyDeleteThanks! Happy dance day for the worm for sure! :-)
DeleteReally sad...my heart weeps when i see any animal or a bird suffering ...n watching them die when I am as helpless as any of them...that's heart wrenching ..
ReplyDeleteOh yes...thanks for coming by to comment Sadia. And thanks so much for following as well!
DeleteYes, that had to be difficult to witness ... a lesson about the fragility of life for your little ones.
ReplyDeleteThey are tough boys, my husband is a firefighter so they know much about the fragility of life. They did hope it would be able to get back up and fly away.
DeleteThis is sad !!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by GS.
DeleteWhat a lovely tribute to this unfortunate blackbird. I love seeing the redwings and hearing them. This is a very skillful write!
ReplyDeleteThanks very much Peggy for your comment and this prompt...I am in love with that horse photo you posted!
DeleteI used to see red winged blackbirds everywhere in the farmland where I first grew up. Memories :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful poem. I especially love "faces in the sky of my sunset held their breaths for me". Very tender. I love the ending, that the bird did not die alone, without mourners.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sherry :)
Delete'Trash bags become funerary'. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by and reading.
DeleteSuch a good poem about such a sad occasion. I had a cardinal do that. It kept running into my window until it killed itself. We tried everything to keep it from doing that. Covered the window, applied stickers, hung a shiny object...to now avail. I know how sad this is.
ReplyDeleteaww...I love cardinals...that is too bad :( Thanks for coming by and commenting Judy.
DeleteWow! This is really really good; the scene, the language you've chosen ("trash bags become funerary"), and the heart you've invested in this real-life scene which you've made into poetry. I am particularly partial to red wing blackbirds, and I would have reacted as you did. It would have hurt my heart to see him undone that way.
ReplyDeleteThanks Shay! Your words mean a lot. I felt it was a bit 'choppy' but went with it anyway. It was sad, he was a beautiful bird.
DeleteFaces in the sky
ReplyDeleteof my sunset
held their breaths for me,
Stunning verse in a fine poem.
Thank you so much Dave!
DeleteThank you Loredana...appreciate your visit :)
ReplyDeleteI can just imagine a house of boys oohing and ahhing over the science of this fatal hit. Your words captured the scene so well.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much Robyn.
Deletebeautifully and poignantly written, Jennifer. i can't stand to see birds or other animals hurt either.
ReplyDelete♥
Thank you Dani :-)
Deletevery sad but well done
ReplyDeleteIt was. And thank you.
Delete