Welcome to this week’s poetry in response to Colleen Chesebro Tuesday Poetry Challeng no 185 which is Poet’s Choice.
This week, despite the dreadful weather, I had a lovely encounter with a surprise visitor to the garden. A racing pigeon who had been blown off course by the high winds, especially at the altitude he would have been flying, over the previous three days.
I did not get close enough to get his ring number, but I did get in touch with the UK, Welsh and Irish racing pigeon societies. There had been a big race from Barcelona to the UK on 28th June and his attempts to fly away, always to the East and back to the coast, made me think he might be one of the 500 Welsh birds in the race.
He stayed with us for three days, and responded to my voice and whilst never coming up close enough to touch, he would call to me from the roof when I came out of the back door and fly down to eat his seed and drink water at my feet.
Finally on the third day he circled the house twice then headed off again… this time for good. Hopefully the rest and food reset his navigation system, and he is now safely tucked up in his home loft. I am sure his owner would be pleased to see him as these birds are much prized and loved.
As it is poet’s choice, I thought I would use some of the photographs and write a double etheree about the encounter… It is always a privilege when an animal offers their trust.
The Visitor
A
surprise
visitor,
a ringed pigeon
weary and confused
blown off course by high winds
far away from his home loft.
Reassured by the other birds
feeding peacefully in this garden
he rests above on the roof of the house.
Familiar with the sounds of humans
he responds to the voice that calls him
and the shaking of a seed can.
His recovery is slow
but he becomes stronger
until finally
with two circuits
of the house
he heads
home.
©Sally Cronin 2020
If you would like to participate in the challenge here is the link again: Colleen Chesebro Tuesday Poetry Challeng no 185
You can find recent reviews for my latest release and other books: Sally’s books and reviews 2019/2020
Thanks for dropping by and I hope you have enjoyed.. thanks Sally.
Beautiful, brings back childhood memories of the nextdoor neighbour who kept racing pigeons, and on race day would stand shaking his tin and calling his babies in 💜
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Thanks Willow and glad it brought back happy memories…hugsx♥
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It did Sally 💜
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Such a lovely encounter, Sally…
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It was Jaye.. brightened my week…hugsx
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I love this, Sally. xx
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Thank you Alex..hugsx
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Your garden is magical indeed. What a lovely respite for your little visitor. I’m glad he found his balance and set off again. Beautiful double etheree, Sally. It tells the story perfectly.
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Thanks very much Diana… it was lovely to be needed…hugsx
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What a lovely story, Sally. The poem is fabulous.
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Thank you Robbie.. a bright spot in the week for me..hugs
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Proving, once again, that love is a Universal language, God Bless you, Sally! ❤
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Thanks Annette.. it was a lovely interlude.. and the first visitor in 4 months…♥
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Well done, Sally! I think it was a relative to the Holy Ghost. 😉 Michael
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Perhaps Michael.. I always see them as messengers of one kind or another… certainly being our first visitor for four months made him special..x
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Sal, beautiful story and good job working it into the Double Etheree. Pretty bird. ❤
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Thanks Debby.. he was a little ray of sunshine.. ♥
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Wonderful! You were able to capture the bird’s irridescent feathers, so pretty. The poem and the photo of your visitor about to take flight are the perfect way to pay tribute to your encounter.
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Thank you Liz.. a lovely interlude in the week. Nature does have the ability to take you out of yourself.. xx
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Definitely, and I’m grateful for it.
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You did a great thing, Sally. The poem speaks of your kindness- otherwise that pigeon wouldn’t have stayed.
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Thank you Jennie.. and being starved of company for 4 months probably helped too.. I shall appreciate the odd drop in from humans a lot more kindly in future…hugsx
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I know what you mean!
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♥
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What a fabulous encounter, Sally! Our neighborhood in the desert is full of pigeons. I’ve never seen them anywhere else. I have no idea how they stand the heat. 113 degrees F. today! Well done, my friend. ❤
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They must have a supply of water somewhere.. even here we put out lots for them in the summer. It was a wonderful encounter..thanks Colleen..♥
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We have a bird bath we keep filled in our backyard. In the winter, the pigeons sleep under our solar panels on our roofs. I’m sure it keeps them warm. ❤
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Fantastic Colleen.. that connection with them is without price..♥
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Here in the city, we’re a bit limited (and no garden) but thankfully we do get pigeons and now cockatoos! Lovely poem and story, Sally.
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Thank you Olga and I envy you the cockatoos.. perhaps I could swap you a few rooks of which we have thousands…hugsx
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