A Clockwork Forager

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Mon, 01 Feb 2016
  • 2775 reads
8 comments
 
Meccanoesque
as a meccanoid
a wind-up toy –
 
clumsily
comes to rest,
the heron;
 
grey as the day
as the month
as the pose
 
gaunt 
bent low
as a frozen branch
above a pond
 
Feed the family
it will, against
all odds, come ice
come snow
 
for it will steal
meat, or fish,
feather or bone
 
holding its own
against the fox,
the kite 
in whose skies
it will conduct
its ceaseless patrol;
no fear it knows
 
Hours stood –
stock-still
as bamboo chatters
amongst itself;
can it be for real?
 
Shoulders hunched
against the cold
until
 
it strikes – 
dagger-like
 
then it’s off, 
haphazardly 
at first
 
till the gears bite
the cogs rotate
the hinges squeak
and it’s airborne again
 
the killing machine
the key is turned
Certificate PG
Poem
Silver Spun Sand Poems
Nature

Comments

Submitted by celticman on

a killing machine, but never obscene. 

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Absolutely, celticsmiley

 

Submitted by Starfish Girl on

This is a fantastic description Tina. Love the comparison with a machine, you can see why people have plastic ones next to their ponds. On holiday and watched a heron on the beach it stood stock still for ages ignoring sand crabs that scuttled by until at last one strayed too close, it was quickly gobbled up wriggling claws and all. It then walked off in its mechanical way in search of more.

Lindy

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks so much for sharing you encounter with a heron.  They are an amazing birdsmiley

Tina

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I've thought of the 'wind-up' toy resemblance of the startled pheasant's flight, but not of the heron. Enjoyed your description very much, Tina. I once mistook a statue heron at a pond for a real still one — placed there to scare off the real hunters I presume. Such odd creatures, but always a delight to see one. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Hi, Rhiannon, and I know where you are coming from as regards to the pheasant...they are very awkward and cumbersome in the air.  The heron is too, until it really gets airborne, and it's not much good at landing eithersmiley

Tina

 

Submitted by Bee on

You have it perfectly with this clockwork, hunched description. Marvelous! 

Bee

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks, Bee.  So pleased you enjoyed.smiley

Tina