I am so glad of the above comments because I simply could not decide, even after considerable staring, enlarging, staring some more, whether this guy was indeed perched, or as Cheryl politely suggests, "a keepsake from a bird that had moved on"…. What a shot. Delightful in any context, but given today's birdy theme, very funny and apposite too!
Whew! Also glad I read the comments first. I had visions of 'tail as fence decor'. So relieved to know the bird was still attached. That aside, what a great shot. And who would have guessed they could hop that high? (;
My first thought was, People do that? Save whole bunches of peacock feathers? And then: Are these all from the same bird? And why is it hanging on a fence? Crazy decor! But then I realized ... duh. So where on earth did you spot this fellow, Allison? And how did he/she get up there? Can they jump? I love the shot -- it's so incongruous, a bit of a mind-bender.
I Saw a Peacock, with a fiery tail, I saw a Blazing Comet, drop down hail, I saw a Cloud, with Ivy circled round, I saw a sturdy Oak, creep on the ground, I saw a Pismire, swallow up a Whale, I saw a raging Sea, brim full of Ale, I saw a Venice Glass, Sixteen foot deep, I saw a well, full of mens tears that weep, I saw their eyes, all in a flame of fire, I saw a House, as big as the Moon and higher, I saw the Sun, even in the midst of night, I saw the man, that saw this wondrous sight.
pismire is an archaic term for an ant
In First Loves, Margaret Atwood describes this "trick" poem as "the first poem I can remember that opened up the possibility of poetry for me."
Perched atop the fence, perhaps? Or a keepsake from a peacock that has moved on? Beautiful, Allison, particularly in it's solitude.
ReplyDeleteYes, perched atop a fence Cheryl - who could ever not stop for a picture?
ReplyDeleteI am so glad of the above comments because I simply could not decide, even after considerable staring, enlarging, staring some more, whether this guy was indeed perched, or as Cheryl politely suggests, "a keepsake from a bird that had moved on"…. What a shot. Delightful in any context, but given today's birdy theme, very funny and apposite too!
ReplyDeleteWhew! Also glad I read the comments first. I had visions of 'tail as fence decor'. So relieved to know the bird was still attached. That aside, what a great shot. And who would have guessed they could hop that high? (;
ReplyDeleteNot to mention the contrast of textures. That fence is a perfect backdrop, right down to the horizontal black lines that help frame it.
ReplyDeleteAnd aren't you a clever duck in your choice of cropping the bird out.
ReplyDeleteMy first thought was, People do that? Save whole bunches of peacock feathers? And then: Are these all from the same bird? And why is it hanging on a fence? Crazy decor! But then I realized ... duh. So where on earth did you spot this fellow, Allison? And how did he/she get up there? Can they jump? I love the shot -- it's so incongruous, a bit of a mind-bender.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous (before 1665)
ReplyDeleteThese following are to be understood in two ways.
I Saw a Peacock, with a fiery tail,
I saw a Blazing Comet, drop down hail,
I saw a Cloud, with Ivy circled round,
I saw a sturdy Oak, creep on the ground,
I saw a Pismire, swallow up a Whale,
I saw a raging Sea, brim full of Ale,
I saw a Venice Glass, Sixteen foot deep,
I saw a well, full of mens tears that weep,
I saw their eyes, all in a flame of fire,
I saw a House, as big as the Moon and higher,
I saw the Sun, even in the midst of night,
I saw the man, that saw this wondrous sight.
pismire is an archaic term for an ant
In First Loves, Margaret Atwood describes this "trick" poem as "the first poem I can remember that opened up the possibility of poetry for me."