on cracked, cold asphalt
with a few other seagulls
picking at someone’s
discarded chewing gum
no river, no lake or pond
just a shallow, dirty puddle
in a low place situated
in the mall parking lot
missing God’s best
satisfied with less
I wanted to shout at him
get up, fly away east
but he had no idea there
were fathomless horizons
where weathered trawlers
ferries and pleasure yachts
cast up immeasurable fish
in waves of powerful wakes
sand crabs on limitless shore
but unable to imagine more
salty scent of ocean winds
to lift his wings heavenward
no clue the Chesapeake Bay
and mighty Atlantic Ocean
would welcome him to enjoy
the bounty of a new world
where he was intended to live
less than sixty miles away
Wow, magical imagery. At times we are such scavengers, so I likened it to humans, too. How it is up to us to dream more in order to live a bigger dream.
Blessings,
Christine
at times I feed the seagulls on the parking lot, it seems at times they are scavengers, other times not, sometimes us humans are the same, fooling around in foolish places with crazy faces that show no traces of love within, reading you is being in a lovely place, with a smile on my face, take care
The chewing gum is a stark image to remind us what crap we're meting out to our fellow earth-sea-and-sky dwellers. It's heartbreaking to learn of all the displaced of our world (of whatever species!) becoming literally like fish out of water in order to find ways to survive. Things are going badly wrong and don't we know it.... Clear-eyed and compassionate as well as beautifully written. xx
I've been having similar thoughts about the wild turkeys I see roaming through the destruction that is the state of NH widening the highway. More deer dead in the road than ever. It breaks my heart. I really enjoyed this poem. Hugs,
Sheila
This is a very profound poem Poetess! Written with excellence and in each line I find food for thought! May the Lord bless you in a special way! Thank you for sharing and caring!
Absolutely not my favorite bird of choice, cos one of them left a etching calling card on my car's roof which left a permanent scar.
No sympathy from this corner!!! (LOL)
So many of us are gulls, Belle, with not enough imagination or courage to go after the bountiful hunting grounds that could give us a richer, more rewarding life...but what we know doesn't trouble us, or does it? I used to know villagers in Ireland who never ventured further than the market town five miles away, their whole lives spent in what I considered the confines of parochialism, but ask them if they'd like to see 'the city' and they'd reply, 'what would I be doing there?' Were they happy? On balance, yes.
Sorry, I'm rattling on but you set me thinking and worthwhile writing does that.
Yea I can sympathize with this one I live on the Atlantic coast of Nova scotia where there is a beach and a fishing village no matter which direction you go but you still see the sea gulls at MacDonalds eating french fries .lol
fee
Nice sentiments Belle. I suspect that birds, much like people, have different reasons for living where they choose to live. I also suspect that 60 miles would be less than one days flight. Displaced? Maybe, but lets hope he's just visiting. Dick
Good Morning, I am happy to see you in print. I pray for your health always. I think this poem was timely but tragic. People of greed just do not understand when the animals die we die too. As always when you write something it becomes regal.
We have many sea gulls here on the North east coast. When I go to Rhode Island there is a sea gull with one leg, they call him one leg Joe, he is always there. I am curious to see if he has made it through this past winter. It was pretty brutal up here. Not sure where he goes for the winter..I will let you know if he does return.
I so sadly see so many of them, these days, miles from the shore. They, like many other creatures today, can find very little to eat. And their lives today, in shopping mall parking lots, many of which were once life-giving wetlands, should make us all pause and think about what we're doing to this planet, today.
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Blessings,
Christine
Sheila
Much Love,
Margaret
No sympathy from this corner!!! (LOL)
Georg
Peace,
Dayvid
ET
Sorry, I'm rattling on but you set me thinking and worthwhile writing does that.
John
Be always safe,
Karen
Donna
fee
GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS
TONY
Lovely poetry as always!
Peace, love, and light, Miss Belle,
Amber
You've put it perfectly.
John