Sunday 6 January 2008

Domesticated

Imprinted at birth by a human,
you never learnt to be what you are.
Flightless and petted, you enjoy comforts
of home and hearth,
insulated from the harsh
rules of nature that made you.

Winter air fills with honking
geese in joyful formation
high in unthinkable sky.
You look up, an ache in your bird’s brain
before waddling indoors
to be hand fed choice grain.

Later you puzzle over dreams
of endless blue and the steady beat of wings.



Previously published in Raindog.

19 comments:

polona said...

i often wonder what animals feel (i'm convinced they do)...
and this is one great possible answer

Gilson said...

I guess the will towards freedom is as universal as can be. Very interesting writing!

Bill said...

Truly imaginative, Juliet.

Janice Thomson said...

Very touching Juliet. It reminds me of Angelou's 'I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings' - I think having caged animals or wild animal of any kind for pets is so very wrong.

Rethabile said...

I agree with polona. And add that this is a touching poem wound with great mastery of the craft.

Andree said...

This is such a coincidence: I began reading The Geese of Beaver Bog this weekend because of the pair of geese that are nesting in my beaver bogs every spring lately. And here you are, writing about my honkers. It is very poignant.

Jo said...

'unthinkable sky' is wonderful! A great poem, Juliet.

Anonymous said...

Unthinkable sky. A thought becomes a poem right there,

KGT (aka Cagey) said...

Enjoyed this poem.

Anonymous said...

'an ache in you bird brain' is a beautiful phrase..

paisley said...

it certainly is a ponderment isn't it?? what do they think when they see or hear their brethren in freedom??? are they aware??? i wonder,,,,,,

Tumblewords: said...

One of my favorites, Crafty! The final two lines send me flying off in search of the rest of the flock...!

Unknown said...

This is very touching and leaves you with that sense of remorse and wonder.

Penelope Anne
http://wannabeawritersomeday.blogspot.com/2008/01/top-poem-what-do-you-hear.html

Christine Gail said...

Such empathy in this

Later you puzzle over dreams
of endless blue and the steady beat of wings.

heartbreakingly beautiful

Deb said...

And this poem can speak for all creatures, too.

Linda Jacobs said...

You captured the feeling perfectly! Especially with your last two lines. Stunning!

Linda Jacobs said...

bzobyaefYou captured the feeling perfectly! Especially with your last two lines. Stunning!

Anonymous said...

Very good work! Warm, feathery; red-brown comfort of the hearth, cold blue breath of birdy yearning; romantic, I sez.

Nice one.

Anonymous said...

Ah, the trade-offs we wild animals must make for comfort, for affection and security...