My response to dVerse Poets Pub Quadrille #14
This Monday Björn has challenged us to write a Quadrille of 44 words that has to include the word ‘jar’.
I left ajar the door to evening;
Moths gathered around the light
That jarred the dusk,
Exploding in a cloud of dust,
Startled by a sudden churring,
A ventriloquial, jarring creak
Uttered by a cryptic, mottled streak
Of noiseless flight
In late summer night.
© Kim M. Russell, 2016
Image of male nightjar in display flight found on www.rspb.org.uk
writing in north norfolk 
So clever use of that sound the bird… I do recall the whippoorwill because of it’s name (but that’s North American)…
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Thanks Bjorn. We get quite a lot of nightjars in Norfolk but they will be getting ready to migrate soon.
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Beautiful creature Kim, I have never seen a nightjar. Love your poetry.
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Thank you!
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I had never heard of NightJars. I read your poem a few times and did not get it — then scroll down further and saw the pic. So quickly read about the crepuscular bird and the imagery in your poem came alive. Well done.
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Thank you for reading and for your comments!
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Wow! I’ve never heard of the nightjar. This is a beautiful write and I learned something here too! Creatures of the night…. 🙂
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Thanks Lillian. Nightjars are nocturnal birds with pointed wings and a long tails. They have an almost supernatural reputation with their silent flight and their mythical ability to steal milk from goats.They only spend summer in the UK and are also known as nighthawks. Apparently they are related to the whip-poor-whill.
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That’s such a majestic creature ❤ love the way you have captured his magnificence inside your poem, Kim 🙂 Beautifully penned.
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Thank you, Sanaa 🙂
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You had me at your title, and then I was soaring with you. Wonderful.
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I loved that you used nightjar as the inspiration for this and for the sounds. It is indeed a magical bird. We have a few in this area but rare.
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The problem is they only spend a few summer months in certain parts of Britain and then off they go for the rest of the year.
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Love the many creative uses of “jar”, especially the nightjar!. The image you paint is both haunting and peaceful.
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Thank you for reading and for your kind comments, Barry.
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What a beautiful creature of the night…would love to see one. Your quadrille is intriguing and magical.
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Thank you, Mish.
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First time to read about this nightjar Kim. Such a lovely capture of the creature!
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Thank you, Grace!
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It looked like a hawk to me, I’ve never heard of a nightjar. I do love these creatures of flight.
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A stealthy yet beautiful creature…clever use of “jar”theme.
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Thank you, Lynn!
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When I lived in Central Florida, we could hear a Nightjar called a Chuck-Wills Widow at night…calling back and forth to each other. I loved hearing it. Thanks for the memories, Kim.
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I’m going to look up the Chuck-Willis Widow. I’m not a fanatical birdwatcher but I do like birds. I’m glad the poem evoked memories for you, Gayle.
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Vivid description.
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A nightjar is entirely new to me. Enjoyed this!
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I’m delighted you enjoyed it, Sue.
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