For one carved instant as they flew,
The language had no simile—
Silver, crystal, ivory
Were tarnished. Etched upon the horizon blue,
The frieze must go unchallenged, for the lift
And carriage of the wings would stain the drift
Of stars against a tropic indigo
Or dull the parable of snow.
Now settling one by one
Within green hollows or where curled
Crests caught the spectrum from the sun,
A thousand wings are furled.
No clay-born lilies of the world
Could blow as free
As those wild orchids of the sea.
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This was written by a bird lover
I like the poem. I see Sea Gulls almost daily. I never figured out why some of them come a few miles into shore. They are very interesting to watch. They also are beggers. I can understand a person writing about Sea Gulls, I wrote a poem about a Mocking Bird.
Katie -
Bravo!!!!
Stunningly, enchantingly lovely and beautiful! Pure magic! -
I liked this very much. I'll look at seagulls differently from now on.
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wonderful description
I could spend hours watching and photographing the gulls on the beach, I am going to miss them when I move away from the sea, and anyone who watches the gulls can really appreciate this poem. Though nothing in words or pictures can ever truly do justice to the beauty and wonder of nature, often words do open new vistas for us and show us different or bigger perspectives than the ones we might have, I think this poem is like that... the comparisons, the metaphors and the descriptions all make this poem a rich experience and one that adds to the wonder of watching the gulls -
I find it interesting when another person's perception challenges my own. Pratts' description of Seagulls as 'wild orchids of the sea' is so different from my own and yet I can see why he would say that, as, when in flight, taking advantage of the thermals they are indeed 'blowing free', and quite lovely.
This poem has allowed me to realise that.
Von
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