.

The sunlight is raising
A glow from the east
For dawn-dappled grazing
By somnolent beasts;
The flight of a parrot
To glistening seeds;
And down from her garret,
With predatory needs,
Arrives a brown kestrel
Inspecting the ground
For creatures too restful
To notice the sound
Of air against feather,
Or talons inbound.

As sunlight climbs higher
The beasts in the field
Are sights to admire
For cowhides which yield
Diaphanous slivers
Of silvery steam.
The parrot delivers
A tune I esteem
Too precious for hiding
Until afternoon.
The kestrel, deciding
The time opportune,
Descends for a rodent,
Straight as a harpoon.

But missing these dramas
Of morning unfold
Are those in pajamas,
Cocooned from the cold
By layers of blanket,
Alarms set for ten—
Too late for a banquet
They can’t taste again.
For cows, by mid-morning,
Lack steaming allure,
And parrots, post-dawning
Revert to demure,
And as for the kestrel—
She’s perching secure.

.

.

David Watt is a writer from Canberra, the “Bush Capital” of Australia. He has contributed regularly to Collections of Poetry and Prose by Robin Barratt. When not working for IP (Intellectual Property) Australia, he finds time to appreciate the intrinsic beauty of traditional rhyming poetry.

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25 Responses

  1. Paul Freeman

    Wonderfully vivid and rolls off the tongue with such ease.

    Thanks for the read.

    Reply
  2. Russel Winick

    Great imagery and rhyme Paul. We sadly don’t get such scenes here in Chicago, though we do have the somnolent beast in the White House. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • David Watt

      Thank you all for your appreciative comments. Russell, I love your comment about the somnolent beast in the White House. His condition lasts long past morning.

      Reply
  5. Cheryl Corey

    Very enjoyable, educational too. I like the rhymes of parrot & garret, opportune & harpoon.

    Reply
    • David Watt

      Thank you Cheryl. I’m so glad you found enjoyment in more than one aspect of the poem.

      Reply
  6. Mike Bryant

    Six loving sentences that just happen to dance and rhyme. Also the word play title is great.

    Reply
    • David Watt

      Thanks for your wonderful comment Mike. I found the missed/mist wordplay too tempting to miss.

      Reply
  7. Jeff Eardley

    David, this is a dream to read. I love, “kestrel/restful” and parrot/garret” and “talons inbound” is just brilliant. Just off to reset the alarm clock, I have been missing far too much. Thank you

    Reply
    • David Watt

      Hello Jeff, the “talons inbound” came from a combination of watching nature documentaries through the years, and viewing first-hand on occasion. The kestrel’s pairing of exceptional eyesight and deadly talons makes for a reliable killer. Mornings do offer some remarkable sights, if only we can shake off the covers.

      Reply
  8. Joseph S. Salemi

    A great poem, but can I make one suggestion? In line 8, the four-syllable word “predatory” spoils the meter. How about saying “with prey-catching needs”? Same meaning, and less Latinate.

    Reply
    • David Watt

      Hello Joe S., my drawling Aussie pronunciation is the culprit for the inclusion of the word ‘predatory’ in line 8. I am so accustomed to pronouncing the word as ‘pred- a- tree’ instead of ‘pred-a-tor-y’ that it sounded fine to my ear.
      ‘prey-catching’ would be a suitable replacement, as it retains the meaning.
      Thanks for your comment and keen eye.

      Reply
  9. Brian Yapko

    I very much enjoyed your poem, David. Great nature descriptions and inspiration to get out of bed and join Creation!

    Reply
    • David Watt

      Thank you very much Brian. The wonders of Creation provide an almost limitless supply of poetic inspiration.

      Reply
  10. Cynthia Erlandson

    Beautiful scenery, and the poem justifies all of us who are “morning-persons”!

    Reply
    • Peter Hartley

      David – more poetry that makes me wish I could live permanently in Australia. You always produce better pictures than prose ever could. And I like the adventurous rhymes.

      Reply
      • David Watt

        Peter, you would be a welcome addition to Australia should you ever decide to head down under. I’m glad you liked the less
        common rhymes. There weren’t too many options for kestrel, but restful seemed to be a pretty good match.

    • David Watt

      Hello Cynthia, Evan’s choice of photo is the perfect accompaniment to my poem. Those of us in the morning person camp catch the best time of day.

      Reply
  11. C.B. Anderson

    Nice poem, David, for both the gliding rhythm and the sparkling rhymes. Reading you describe Australia is probably the next best thing to actually being there. I have to ask: Have you ever heard of Paul Christian Stevens, the seminal Australian poet and editor? If not, then look him up; he is a significant part of your national heritage. I will expand on that subject at your request.

    Reply
  12. David Watt

    C.B., I hadn’t heard of Paul Christian Stevens, although his life and work are surely worthy of attention. I understand that we was Yorkshire born, but lived most of his life in Australia. He seems to have been a man of many talents.
    I read some of his poetry just now, including ‘Relics’ and ‘The Big Red Chair’.
    Both poems deal with the human condition in an easy going, fresh way.
    Do you have any personal insights into the person or style of Mr Stevens?

    Reply
    • C.B. Anderson

      David, the reply

      Your last question invites a response far afield from the poem at hand. If you ask Evan to send me your e-mail address, or ask him to send you mine, then I can tell you what I know about Stevens. Otherwise, I’m not sure that you will even get to read the reply I am posting right here.

      Reply
  14. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    David, this is a truly beautiful creation that has my mind smiling and heart singing. I love to wrap myself in the wonders of nature when life gets stressful, and the images your lovely poem has conjured have filled me with joy. Thank you!

    Reply
  15. David Watt

    Thanks you so much Susan. Nature is a wonderful antidote for stress, unless a predator mistakes us for lunch!

    Reply

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