Friday, August 30, 2013

A Few Seconds




A tight cluster
of Cedar Waxwings
spilled suddenly
from the canopy
of tall Red Oaks;
leaves green and glossy
in bright summer sun.
 
 
 
They flew fast
with direction
and purpose,
over the field
scattered with
round bales
of hay.



Then disappeared.

Into the
dense foliage
of Silver Maples
lining the riverbank.



When you first heard
their high-pitched
whistles, did you
                               quickly
                                            look up
                                                         to catch
                                                                      their
                                                                             passing
                                                                                          flight? 


Did this little
squadron of joy
quicken those
few seconds
of your day?

© 2013 Richard Havenga










Photo Locations:

1. & 2. Pickerel Lake Park - Fred Meijer Nature Preserve,  (Pickerel)  Kent County,  Michigan

3. White Cloud,  Michigan

4. & 5.  Grand River, (Grand)  Lowell, (Lowell)  Michigan  (Michigan)

Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum


8 comments:

  1. Seeing and hearing such a "squadron of joy" would totally make my day! Beautiful!

    Gloria S.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gloria:

    I know you have Cedar Waxwings by you. Next time we're together, I will whistle to reproduce its call. Then, multiply that sound by six, or eight, or ten.

    Quickly... look up !

    Thanks for becoming a regular follower at WWFN. I enjoy your comments. Now, get back to work writing your next book.

    Gratefully,

    Richard

    ReplyDelete
  3. Rich- This is one sleek crested bird with its black mask and smooth as silk wings. Its wing luster really makes this a unique bird; one of my favorites every summer, esp. early in the season when the berries are plentiful. Nice photos. All the best, -Rick

    ReplyDelete
  4. Rick:

    I can tell you have a fine appreciation of this Cedar Waxwing. Sleek, handsome, and well-groomed for sure.

    They were swooping through a new hatch of caddisflies over the Grand River; in constant motion.

    Thank you again for your loyalty to WWFN. Pass it around.

    Rich

    ReplyDelete
  5. Very lovely descriptive poetry and photographs of the Cedar Waxwings. Apparently, they winter in our woods down here in the Southwest. I've heard them too, and they do make me stop and look up.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Cynthia:

    Hello again. Welcome back. Yes, you do have Cedar Waxwings in AZ. Such a handsome bird.

    You, of course, possess this special awareness of the natural world around you.

    Readers of WWFN: go to Cynthia's site from the list in my sidebar: "Canyon Stones". You will like her work.

    Richard

    ReplyDelete
  7. Way to capture a unique moment in time, Dad!
    Write on! : )
    Love,
    Sarah

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sarah:

    I worked weeks to capture these waxwings in flight, at several different sites.
    Hope you enjoyed these few seconds of poetry.

    Love,

    Dad

    ReplyDelete

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