for the silvery shudder of sunshine
to chime in a new day like church bells,
to tempt me with glittering streams
and creeks threading seaward, to swells
of waves like the ones in my dreams.
Following this confusing map of the sea,
I strain to hear dark-bellied geese creak
and grumble along the sparkling tide-line,
and long to paddle in shallows with sandpipers
and turnstones, light-footed scamperers,
before they take off into the autumn sky.
Now, still waiting for the sun to shine,
hungry harpy gulls are screeching
and I’m tempted to join in their beseeching.
Kim M. Russell, 26th May 2021
Image by Debby Hudson on Unsplash
My response to Poets and Storytellers United Weekly Scribblings #71: Waiting
This week Rosemary asks us what we’re waiting for.
writing in north norfolk 
I would be tempted to join their screeching too!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nothing like a good scream at the sea!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful, Kim.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Francina.
LikeLike
I mean this in the nicest way, KR: This poem is for the birds.
Bellapoetics.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Big grin! THANK YOU, Ron!
LikeLike
This has the feel of Mary Oliver to me – the unabashed delight in the natural world and the longing to weave one’s life in its song.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you very much, Rommy. You’ve made my day!
LikeLike
This is a waiting that is bound to be answered happily, which makes for a poem which is a joy to read. I agree with Rommy that it is reminiscent of Mary OIiver.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much, Rosemary!
LikeLike
Careful you don’t pas by some treasured moments whilst you’re waiting! I think sometimes we miss the small pleasures while waiting for something huge and grand.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Every now and again, a good screeching into the wind is natural therapy. So, I totally get the speaker and the gulls. Waiting for better, for brighter, for more… can do that to most of us.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It looked promising first thing this morning, but it didn’t take long for the rain to come.😕
LikeLiked by 1 person
😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am waiting … with you.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh yes, go join the gulls! It will make the waiting go every so much faster. 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ve been waiting so long,,,
LikeLike
fingers too fast: “ever,” not “every”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Luv your empathy with the gulls
Happy Wednesday
Much💚love
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Gillena. Happy Thursday with love!
LikeLike
me too. It’s a balmy 9.5 celsius just south of San Francisco this late May day, at 4 in the afternoon…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thre is always something to do and what is better than a chat with the gulls down on the beach!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Birds are amazing creatures, Robin, (pun intended!), and we can learn so much from them.
LikeLike
I know what the gulls are like but I wouldn’t recognize the dark-bellied goose or the sandpiper. I’m not sure they were invented then, at least I don’t think they were in my childhood Audubon set of bird cards.
..
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
That’s a wonderful vision! (K)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Kerfe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a wonderful way of describing gulls, as harpies! So true, obvious, yet I’d never done it before. I love to hear them, and smell the sea. I’m long overdue to do so.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Lisa!
LikeLike
Kim, I love this poem from start to finish, but that first line is simply magnificent.
-David
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, David!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your dreams are precious, Kim. Lovely poem.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Sara.
LikeLike