The quacking and chuckling
of ducks and ducklings
leads to the meadow,
among the stones and grasses
just where the gurgling river passes
in its sinuous windings.
Rapid water purls,
not just between the banks
but into ponds and ditches,
fields and streams,
and the convulsive weir pool
where I stop to dream
and breathe
the sounds of water.
Kim M. Russell, 30th August 2018
My response to dVerse Poets Pub Meeting the Bar: Onomatopoeia
Björn is our host for MTB this Thursday and he wants us to focus on onomatopoeia, which he rightly says is a great word and an important part of language. He has shared a dictionary definition and suggests we look for lists of onomatopoeia on the Internet so that we can follow his instructions in order to concentrate on the sound of our poems.
Also linked to What’s Going On? on 29th May 2024.
writing in north norfolk 
This is wonderful… I love how you started with the ducks and then the waters… to me this was a wonderful pastoral sense that made me see the painting before I scrolled down to see it… may your day be as good as this.
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Thank you, Bjorn. We get ducks on the moorings at the bottom of our garden and sometimes you hear them long before you see them, so you just follow the noise! The sun is shining this morning so I might wander down there later. 🙂
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The quacking and chuckling of ducks made me smile and really drew me in to experience the sounds. I love the convulsive weir pool so much. Especially as a place to dream, with all that water gushing.
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Thank you, Victoria!
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just stunning for the draw of the sounds and how they so vividly paint a rich and delightful space 🙂
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Thanks Pat! 🙂
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I love the pastoral feel of your poem!
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Thank you, Jo!
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A bygone era, a pastoral whiff, a halcyon vision. Water, like the wind, makes lovely white noise to augment sleeping.
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It certainly does, Glenn. Along the North Norfolk coast we have a lot of wildfowl parks and marshes; the noise in the autumn, when there is a lot of migratory movement, is fantastic! Take a look at this link: https://www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/inspire/a-z-wildlife.aspx
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I like the idea of breathing sounds.
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Me too!
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Lovely, Kim.
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Thank you V.J.
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Nice on Kim.
much love…
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Thanks Gillena and much love to you!
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This is very idyllic and calming. The sounds of water run deep and I love the quacking and chuckling that accompany it.
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Thank you, Mary.
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Kim- I love this line- just where the gurgling river passes
in its sinuous windings.’ You captured the moment so well!
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Thank you, Linda!
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“and breathe
the sounds of water.”
Sigh. (I wonder if the word ‘sigh’ counts as onomatopoeia?) Well, this piece (peace) makes me sigh, with a sibilant shhhhhh.
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Yes, sigh! Truly onomatopoeic and a satisfying sound. A bit like purring.
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classic
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Thanks Maureen!
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The imagery of your poem truly brought the painting to life, thank you.
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Thank you for reading and commenting.
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water does have so many different sounds and it’s melody like a song – like the ducks as part of your landscape, they are fun to watch
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We get so many different types of waterfowl along the coast here, especially in the marshes. I love the sound, swim and flight of ducks, which are quite comical.
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like they are speaking to one another – yes love that chatter
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A beautiful pastoral scene you paint with all the sounds complete!
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Thank you, Dwight!
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just where the gurgling river passes – that is wondrous sound for sure.
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Thank you!
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All the different sounds of water – beautifully done. I particularly love the last two lines.
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You’re back! Did you have a good break? And did you get to listen to water?
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Lovely break, and lots of water! And we went to our local beach last night and just listened to the waves…
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🙂
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Love the ducklings, sounds of water, and how you painted the art you used in words.
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“and breathe the sounds of water.” I never thought of it that way, but it’s true, much of the lure of water is in the sounds it creates.
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I love living close to water, it is so calming.
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Love the sounds here….it captured my imagination 🙂
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Thanks Viv! 🙂
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🙂
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Beautiful imagery, Kim! So peaceful: it’s a lovely scene you describe!
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Ah…. to breathe the sounds of water…. We shall do that soon. Leaving Sept 8 for two blissful weeks in our beloved Provincetown – at the very tip of Cape Cod. Our deck there is right on the ocean … and we shall breathe the sounds of water. I shall remember this line!
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Provincetown sounds wonderful Lill! I have always been attracted to Cape Cod and I think it would be a perfect place to write. Have a great time there.
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Enchanting. I could hear everything!
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Thank you, Susan!
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Splendid 🙂 do check out my post on water here https://sunniesmybunnies.wordpress.com/2018/07/26/10-ways-water-influences-human-behaviour/
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Thank you!
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Nice Poem.Beautiful imaginary. Thanks for your sharing.
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Thank you, Priti.
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“…and breathe the sounds of water.” So lovely. I am a water girl, I seek it wherever I am, the sea, rivers, lakes……….Your poem has such beautiful water-sounds.
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Thank you so much, Sherry. We are lucky to live so close to the river.
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Ah, I can just hear the quacking and chuckling of the ducks and ducklings! Such an upbeat poem – makes me smile. I want to stop and dream along that pool!
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I’m glad my poem made you smile, Mary. Thank you!
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You’ve captured the magic of the sound of water and nature wonderfully – Jae
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Thank you, Jae.
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Aah…Water’s lilting voice. This poem is like a beautiful painting; so calm and peaceful.
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Thank you, Sumana!
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A scene very nicely evoked, Kim.
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Thank you, Shay!
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I love the sounds of water and you have captured this ! Well done.
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Thank you, Alan!
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I just came in from walking the dog, and duck flew over me quacking all the way.
That really pulled me into the poem.
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A coincidence – or even ESP?
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The sounds of water are always so lovely and you have captured that beautifully here!
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Thank you, Carrie!
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Your love of water sings so beautifully in your lines, Kim. No albatross here with “water, water, everywhere!” but ducks and the sounds of pastoral peace. Lovely.
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Thank you, Dora!
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My pleasure, Kim.
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wonderful each sound from ducklings to the wonderful sound of water saturated here.
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Many thanks!
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