A Long Line 2

By Richard L. Provencher

Mon, 03 Feb 2014
  • 1201 reads
4 comments
 

arose from early morning

as mist whiffed across the flats,

Alberta geese now whirling

in swooping numbers

through mushy November clouds

 

a Royal wedding of V’s

scudding south. They’re leaving

memories of green pastures

salient lakes

and wilderness of plenty.

 

An ancient path guides

across borders

and hidden sloughs, where

a fury of sound awaits; hunters

in suits of deceit

with rules of engagement.

 

In an ambush of confusion  

tired wings flee rest,

losing leaders in succession.

Too soon vagabond warriors lay

in a vacancy of stillness.

 

Beyond the turmoil---voices

recant the excitement of shotgun

thunder, goblets of wine raised

toasting someone’s  

false entry into manhood. 

 

 

Certificate PG
Poem
Poetry - For All Reasons
Nature

Comments

Submitted by Bee on

Hi Richard.

I love the way this starts off so serenely with such a beautiful description of the sight of the birds and then breaks into turmoil with the men and their guns. I also liked your added opinion at the end. Great poem.

Bee

Submitted by Richard L. Prov... on

Thank you Bee, you are one of my great encouragers -- thanks again. I learned to appreciate birds during my recovering period from my stroke when all I could do for a long time was observe birds out my living room window and onto the porch with eyes that wandered across an array of feathered friends.

Richard L. Provencher

Submitted by celticman on

false entry into manhood indeed, but only later would any boy realise that.

 

Submitted by Richard L. Prov... on

Yes Celticman, for anyone who did much hunting like I did for 40 years, it does come as a shock as to question why all this killing. I still enjoy eating moose, deer, rabbit, ruffed grouse, although I no longer hunt them. I was a crack shot with .410, 20 gage and 12 gage shotguns as well as .303, 30-30, .22, .270 and .30-06 rifles, also having owned them at one time. It was my practiced skills with open sight, and never telescopic sights to get my share. I fired a 9 mm pistol once at an Air Cadet Range and it was the worst experience I ever had. The instructor carelessly forgot to give us fifteen year old cadets ear protectors and I the sounds damaged my right ear which bothers me 51 years later. 

Richard L. Provencher