Nesting

On the rooftop, sparrows twitter,
peering quizzically from the gutter;
they flurry feathers, swoop and pirouette,
dodging in and out of privets.

Peering quizzically from the gutter,
they carry bits of twig and moss,
dodging in and out of privets
to patch and line their new-built nests.

They carry bits of twig and moss
and, when the day is nearly done,
patch and line their new-built nests,
then settle noisily down to rest.

They patch and line their new-built nests,
flurry feathers, swoop and pirouette,
then settle noisily down to rest.
From the rooftop, sparrows twitter.

Kim M. Russell, 7th March 2019

Image result for sparrows building a nest pinterest
Image found on Pinterest

A new pantoum for dVerse Poets Pub Open Link Night

I’ve taken a poem I wrote for our elderly ex-neighbours, who have moved away to a bungalow. I got the idea from an article I read in The Times a few weeks ago. I originally wrote it in a card, wishing them well in their new home, and decided to rework it as a pantoum.

44 thoughts on “Nesting”

      1. There are still lots of house sparrows in towns but like in England the populations of hedge and tree sparrows have dropped to the extent that I haven’t seen a single one since we’ve been here.

        Liked by 1 person

  5. A sweet and accurate pantoum; true to form, and like Bjorn mentioned, your words are so swell, the form did not dominate the piece. I nominate this poem to be put in the upcoming dVerse form book.

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  10. Pantoums always remind me of Khayyam’s “…but evermore came out by the same door as in I went”! I love that the sparrows are readying for Spring. We have snow predicted for tonight … AGAIN!

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    1. Snow! I haven’t seen any snow for ages. I wish I could send some of our spring weather over to you, although yesterday it changed to rain halfway through the day. It’s still chilly out there!

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  11. I can’t wait to see these creatures in spring. I love the sounds of the pantoum Kim specially with the:

    flurry feathers, swoop and pirouette,
    then settle noisily down to rest.
    From the rooftop, sparrows twitter.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  19. So enjoyed this, Kim, as I am a big bird-lover. You use of slant rhyme and consonance works so well. I’ve been entertaining finches, mockingbirds and hummers at our feeders–or should I say,they’ve been entertaining me.

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  20. this was pretty and happy and love the twittering of the sparrows even as they lay down to rest, this is what i would call “neat” in so many ways, the repetitions were effortless and i felt I was reading a story.

    Liked by 1 person

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