Bellowing blarney in bare twigs,
the oncoming storm
is accompanied by gravel-rasp of crows
and reverberating raven echoes.
High above the ridge, the first appears,
joined by a second artist of the air,
wingtip to wingtip,
rolling and diving,
tearing apart the leaden shroud of cloud
in a monsoon of rain and feathers:
birds battling against each other
and the forces of weather.
Kim M. Russell, 2017
Image found on Pinterest
My response to Imaginary Garden with Real Toads – Recycle a Saying (Poetry and Flash Fiction with Magaly)
Magaly tells us that she has spent a lot of time conversing with a friend who speaks, thinks (and seems to look at other people) in altered axioms. She says that if you don’t know him, you might think that he’s just a bit silly, even confused. But if you listen to what he is saying, then you might see what she’s seen: her friend is hilarious (and completely addicted to proverb deconstruction).
With that in mind, for today’s prompt, Magaly invites us to take a famous proverb, change some of its keywords, then use the altered version to write a new three-stanza poem or a short story (of 313 words or fewer). She has asked us to please share the original proverb somewhere in our post. I have chosen the saying: ‘Birds of a feather flock together’.
writing in north norfolk 
Love the “artist of the air” detail. It’s poetic description at its yummiest. And your third stanza does wonders with imagery, I can see exactly what is happening… the feathers and the fight are right in front of my mind’s eye.
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Thank you, Magaly. What a welcome back 😊
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Ah.. yes the ferociousness of claws… birds of a flock still fight. The image of them fighting is stellar
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Thanks Bjorn. I missed reading and writing poetry – as you know, I’ve been writing every day since I retired – and I’m so pleased to be getting back into my routine.
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Beautiful poem! I love reading about ravens and crows – I found such respect for them a few years ago when I wrote an article on them. 🙂
Wonderful extrapolation from the idiom, too – “birds of a feather” – your poem was wonderful! xo
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Thank you so much for reading and for your kind comments. 😊
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a wonderful portrayal of nature, tooth and claw…and beaks.
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Thank you, Kerry. It’s nice to be on line again. Did you send a schedule for February/March? I’ve had a few ideas for prompts.
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Wow, this is so visual. I can see and hear your murder of crows.
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Thank you, Susie!
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My goodness this is vivid! Especially this: “tearing apart the leaden shroud of cloud in a monsoon of rain and feathers: birds battling against each other and the forces of weather.” Beautifully rendered.
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Thank you, Sanaa!
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Definitely…. true.
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🙂
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Luv the alliteration in the story told AND this is my favourite line
“joined by a second artist of the air,”
much love…
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Thank you, Gillena 🙂 xxx
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Wow! Excellent! Such a phenomenal moment captured.
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I’m happy you like it!
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