Tag: birds

Poetry

To Some House Finches

 

You were all about on the bare ground

parsing litter from a naked and spidery tupelo

in the last cold light of day in the backyard.

 

I’d forgotten or was too lazy to spread some seed

that morning, so maybe you’d come back at the end

of a long day’s searching to make one last go of it.

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Poetry

Spring Alleviate

 

The day is apparently beautiful

I suppose I should love today

how pigeons pirouette in courtship

 

and she, flying forth, leaves him

and still he twirls in place, dances on

Why should he not? the day is beautiful

 

Should sparrows not alight in warm winds

steering and splitting the air like a kite

gliding effortlessly, as playfully as children

 

who balance on the edge of the riverwalk?

Should they too not also enjoy themselves?

For surely it must be a beautiful day.

 

Should the robin not be curious of me

brazen and full of courage for crumbs

wondering at the contents of my bag?

 

Should geese not honk in salutation

and wrens not siren such foreign notes?

Of course. It is a beautiful day

R. Charboneau

 

Artwork – Pissarro – Springtime in Eragny (1890)

Poetry

An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump

I’ve been obsessed with this painting by Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-97) for the last few weeks. I love the use of chiaroscuro in general, and I love how Wright has used it to deify the scientific experiment. I’ve also been reading Boynton’s Beginnings of Modern Science, a collection of the early letters and essays showing the development of major scientific fields of study. I am always in awe of our curiosity and ingenuity as a species.

This poem is also dedicated to Artschaft, whose excellent art criticism has exposed me to lots of new art and artists. I encourage you to have a look at her work.

 

An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump

 

And Boyle said let there be the element

primitive and perfectly unmingled body

made of no others nor of each other mixt

of one and only one kind making all things.

 

I know this because they know this.

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