Spring’s symphony is long
over. Birds that filled every
tree and bush with song
are now hushed,
and the dawn chorus
is stifled by long hot days.
A garden chiffchaff
gives a final flourish,
knowing that autumn
and then winter will rush
in, only in a matter of weeks,
on a lonely crow’s caw
and a tawny owl’s shrieks.
Kim M. Russell, 15th August 2023
Image by Alexei Scutari on Unsplash
Merril is our host this Tuesday, hosting the dVerse Poets Pub’s Poetics from southern New Jersey, where August is the beginning of the end of summer. I’ve just celebrated my birthday and agree with Merril that they are a sort of transitioning to the next year.
Today Merril wants us to write poems that take place in some sort of transition time: for example, just before school starts, traveling on a bus or train in-between destination, or those few moments before you fall asleep. She has selected lines from two poems written by two very different poets born in August: Shelley and Rita Dove. Both selections have a sort of transition feel.
writing in north norfolk 
Birds are leaving or go silent… last weekend I could only hear wrens and tits, where earlier we had blackbirds singing… yes there is such a transition.
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The squirrels are already out scavenging in our garden.
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“A garden chiffchaff gives a final flourish,” … yes! This is such a gorgeous glimpse into seasonal changes, Kim 😍😍
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Thank you, Sanaa! 🙂
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You’re most welcome! 🥰🥰
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I like how you swept through the year in birdsong – the cawing is such a sad sound of the year’s passing
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Thank you, Laura. I quite like the cawing.
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Such beautiful images, Kim. The morning choir is definitely not as loud now, nor as early. Our robins are still singing though. My favorite lines were:
“A garden chiffchaff
gives a final flourish,”
Beautiful sounds. 💙
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Thank you, Merril!
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I feel so sad that the sounds from the birds are now hushed. There is a definitely change in the migration of creatures with the coming of autumn. Adore the sounds of lonely crow’s caws and tawny owl’s shrieks.
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Thank you, Grace!
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I had never heard of a chiffchaff. Apparently in German they’re called Zilpzalp.🤭 Thanks for that, that made my day. Along with your inclusion of the raven and the owl in your beautifully imagistic piece.
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Thanks Melissa!
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Birdsong as finale and intro. Great stuff, Sister. Thanks!
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Cheers Ron!
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Happy birthday, Kim. How the calls change with seasons. Sweet little feathered poem.
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Thank you so much, Brendan.
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Birds are always a good way to mark the seasons. (K)
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You have captured it well, Kim. The transition from summer to fall is a welcome one for me.
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Thanks Dwight!
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You are welcome, Kim.
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Bravo!!!
Much💖love
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Thank you, Gillena!
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Definitely the birds aren’t as vocal, but the wasps are drunk on fermenting apples, and making a lot of noise! This is lovely, and as always, I enjoy reading your calming poetry, Kim.
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We have wasps and fermenting apples too!
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I always get stung this time of the year. The little beasties are insane.
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As a bird lover, I love this, especially the way you gave a little chiffchaff his own stanza. How lovely this sounds read aloud…”on a lonely crow’s caw
and a tawny owl’s shrieks.”
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Thank you so much, Mish!
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Nicely done poem.
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Thank you, Maria!
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It is something that isn’t always apparent but there is a definite shift between birds in a season, singing and visible, to all of a sudden not being around.
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It’s even more noticeable living in the countryside.
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The transition to autumn/winter and the absence of birdsong is depicted so well ❤️ Lovely 😄
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Thank you so much, Aboli!
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Our birds are just starting to sing again, here, after molting. Some are already just passing through on the way south; some will stay.
I liked the lonely crow’s caw and the tawny owl’s shrieks.
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Thank you, Priscilla!
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“only in a matter of weeks,
on a lonely crow’s caw
and a tawny owl’s shrieks.”
Fabulous imagery here….to see and to hear.
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Thank you Lill!
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