‘I would that we were, my beloved, white birds on the foam of the sea!’
-W.B. Yeats
Land-Locked, City Dweller’s Lament
I mourn at dawn with ashen doves
rustling in nests of refuse
faggot butts and paper scrapping
littered amidst the fading leaves
roses singed by acid dewdrops
choke from mist infused with poison
vines erupting from concrete tombs
now cling to rain-swelled guttered eaves
may we rise from heavy slumber
remedy our careless keeping
see past gray horizons blighted
sprawling towers of brick and steel
beautiful dawn would I know you
wild, pristine, unobstructed
left untouched, nurtured, protected
would then, the mourning doves still grieve
~kat
What started as a lovely morning stroll, serenaded by doves coo-cooing took an unfortunate turn. I hadn’t set out to write this poem, but the muse insisted. For Jane Dougherty’s ‘A Month With Yeats’ – Day Twenty-Six with the verse above from Yeats’ poem, ‘The White Birds’.
November 26th, 2017 at 7:25 pm
Reblogged this on Read 4 Fun and commented:
Three thoughts on this one. First, it is sad to hear that what started out as a lovely morning stroll provoked such a sense of sadness (see Kat’s comments as you scroll down). Second, those of us who live in the developing world are many times fortunate. We may not have all the conveniences of developed societies but I like my weekly visits to my nearby home village. The word “pristine” fits well as a description of my “desa.”. This is a bit of an alert to the “developing” world. Take it slow. Third, an alert (and a question) to my English as a Foreign Language students: Why is the last line of this poem so clever? There is more than one answer and I look forward to a discussion.
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November 26th, 2017 at 8:58 pm
Thank you for the commentary and reblog Ron. I am reminded after this morning that I need to get away to the countryside or to the ocean shore more often. ❤️
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November 27th, 2017 at 4:04 am
I share your sentiments entirely, Kat, and agree with Ron’s message too. ‘Development’ brings advantages but it has a cost, and in the ‘developed’ world, we are beginning to realise what we have lost. The beast is possibly galloping too fast to stop though. I think the mourning dove will always have reason to grieve. The cities aren’t bird-friendly for most species, and one of the main reasons parts of the countryside are left intact is because of their entertainment potential—theme parks or hunting.
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November 27th, 2017 at 6:31 am
It saddens me that even with the mounting evidence of human caused climate change, people in power refuse to acknowledge its existence. Protecting the environment is just one of the things being unraveled by our leaders, but I believe it will have the most dire effects on future generations.
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November 27th, 2017 at 6:38 am
Of course it will, and those in power know they’ll be dead before the worst happens, so they go right on abusing the planet, exploiting its inhabitants for their own comfort and that of their friends.
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November 27th, 2017 at 6:41 am
You are so right Jane. And I agree with your former statement. The beast is galloping too fast…😟
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November 27th, 2017 at 8:42 am
Wish I were wrong.
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November 27th, 2017 at 9:18 am
Children in the UK are given plenty of chances at school to learn about the environment, social etiquette, equality, and personal and social responsibilities, yet seem to have little regard for anything other than their own desires. We now seem to have 2 generations who have little regard for anything other than themselves.
I walk the same route almost daily. It takes in suburban and rural areas. The litter, vandalism, rudeness, and total disregard for others, or for the environment is frightening.
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November 27th, 2017 at 9:28 pm
It truly is frightening. And so, so sad.
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November 27th, 2017 at 9:29 am
Dark days. (K)
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November 27th, 2017 at 9:28 pm
yes…it is. 😦
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November 27th, 2017 at 11:21 am
Such Dark-Beautiful Magnificence. 😎😎😎😎😎🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀
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November 27th, 2017 at 11:17 pm
Thank you Dorna. 🙂
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November 27th, 2017 at 9:06 pm
Sad powerful meaningful
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November 27th, 2017 at 11:16 pm
I miss living in more rural areas, where you can’t see your neighbor’s house. 😉
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