09 August 2007

Poetry Thursday 8/09

River Song
by Constance Brewer


From the banks of Susquehanna,
blackbirds sing out “Poor me”,
and bandy about patch red wings;
like signage on a marquee.

“Poor me, poor old me, poor little me.”

Blood soaked shoulder slash
underlined by yellow,
the drill sergeant has arrived
and soon begins to bellow;

“Poor me! Poor me! Poor me! Poor meeeee!”

Sodden banks of emerald green
threaten to burst before long,
swollen ripe with serenades,
weighty with bird song.

"Poor me, poor me, poor old meeee."

Where the Susquehanna bends
toward the fading light of day,
a last reminding plaintive call,
this acoustical bouquet;

“Poooor meeeeeeeeeee...."

23 comments:

Crafty Green Poet said...

This is a really good poetic description of the bird!

paisley said...

i loved this.. a song in flight feeling....

Paul D. said...

Oh I agree with crafty, great description of red wing blackbirds. I am familiar with the Susquehanna from field trips when I was an undergrad so this is a double treat.

carole said...

I'm not at all familiar with the Susquehanna being based in the U.K.but your poem positively sings.

Anonymous said...

THis is no poem! This a song. I like the rhythm.

Odessa said...

i love the imagery of this poem. "blood soaked shoulder slash underlined by yellow" --so vivid!

Tumblewords: said...

Desciptive and visual. I hear the song, the call and the voice.

Constance Brewer said...

crafty green poet, paisley, paul decelles - thanks. I love red wing blackbirds and miss their rusty songs on the river banks.

Constance Brewer said...

carole, - just an east coast US river, probably much like the ones you have in the U.K. :)

gautami tripathy - thanks! I played with the lines for a long time trying to get the right rhythm.

Constance Brewer said...

odessa - red wings remind me of soldiers with their different degrees of shoulder patches.

tumblewords -thank you!

Joyce Ellen Davis said...

I enjoyed your PT piece, and also had fun looking around here. You have a nice place!

Constance Brewer said...

pepektheassassin- Thanks for checking out the poem and looking around.

Just steer clear of the basement...

Deb said...

One of my favorite birds, your poem about them is lovely. Feels just right.

Constance Brewer said...

...deb - thank you. :)

Sherri B. said...

Just beautiful, and very charming! Thank you. :~)

January said...

I agree with Odessa. I love the images in this poem. Very nice!

Constance Brewer said...

fledgling poet and january, thank you for your kind words. Glad you enjoyed it!

Clare said...

Hi Constance! Very cool poem, and I really like red wing blackbirds. There is something so dramatic and elegant about them. I love how your poem gave voice to their song.
:)

Constance Brewer said...

Hi clare, thanks! I love the red wings song, there's not near enough of them around right now to be as noisy as I wrote about...

Anonymous said...

I love red wing black birds. this poem is a great reminder of how I miss seeing them.

Constance Brewer said...

Roberta- I have to drive a bit to get my red wing fix. In the spring they hang out in my trees, but in the summer they move to the lake. :)

sage said...

nice poem, I love the title and the word Susquehanna has a nice sound to it--and it's a great river

Constance Brewer said...

thanks sage - I grew up on "The banks of the Susquehanna. :)