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| "Bobolink" © 2016 Jan Godown Annino |
THINK
Dear bird watcher,
Ah!
You saw a flash, pale yellow
I heard you – "What a pretty fellow"
Do not think me here for show
I face treacherous miles to go
While you watch me on this thistle
Think – he had to stop and wet his whistle
Think – what other creatures has he seen
Think – what is his perch when humans dream
Flash!
I lift my wings – I’ve seen seeds
After drink and rest it’s food I need
While wings beat steady steady again
Go write a poem, be my friend
I must fly,
Bob, traveling bobolink
© 2016 Jan Godown Annino. All rights reserved.
From Jan:
- Bob O’Lincoln is the call some birders attributed to this bird. Over a long time that name evolved to the lyrical way we say it today.
- A tagged bobolink once traveled 12,000 miles in migration.
- In a day a bobolink can fly up to 1,000 miles. Without a suitcase!
Sources: Cornell Ornithology Lab online, Wikipedia, my dictionary
- Bobolinks like rice fields, to glean the grains, such as in Louisiana and South Carolina.
A chirp of thanks for bobolink identification of this photo—which I took May 7, 2016 on our walk at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge—to my birding/writing pal, Ann Morrow. Two more thank you chirps, to Michelle/TLD and to poet Laura Shovan, for the persona poem prompt.
Laura Shovan has challenged us to write persona poems this month. Click HERE for more details. You don't need to include the artwork that inspired your poem, but you are welcome to as long as I can properly attribute the artist/photographer.
Send your poem to TodaysLittleDitty (at) gmail (dot) com, or use the contact form in the sidebar to the right. All contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration on Friday, May 27th, and one lucky participant will win a personalized copy of her fantastic new verse novel for middle grade readers:
Wonderful voice of this "pretty fellow", Jan. I love that he's off on the travels, but pauses to give advice to bird-watcher you. Clever imagination! And love that it's your picture.
ReplyDeleteA bright found feather of thanks, Linda.
DeleteI'm grateful to Laura for the prompt. Until I began his letter, I didn't know he was thinking all that.
Though I can't be sure, I think there are some birds around these parts singing "whataprettyfellow, whataprettyfellow." :) My song to you is "Whataprettyphoto! Whataprettypoem!" It's great to have the extra fun facts, too. Chirping my thanks backatcha, Jan!
ReplyDeleteChee, chip & chirp, with a few other meoldic trills of appreciations to TLD & you Michelle!
DeleteBeautiful poem, Jan. Yes to the bobolink's good advice. Go write a poem!
ReplyDeleteHey there teach! Thank you.
DeleteYour school workshop that you shared blooms here at
Today's Little Ditty.
I'm sure a lot of us reading TLD would fly to attend one of your writing/poetry workshops, for out-of-school students like us.
Enjoyed the poem and the information. "Bob O'Lincoln," there's a poem in that, methinks!
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Diane. But I don't know what it is. Can you go for it?
DeleteThanks for your thoughtful words.
This is a sweet poem. I love anything to do with birds and this, along with the info about the bird, is a real treat. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteSong birds do lift my spirits & I'm glad to know we share that Rosi. Appreciations to you!
DeleteA handsome Bobolink and a worthy poem to send him on his way. I'm fond of the Cornell ornithology site, too. They do a great job.
ReplyDeleteThis fella is handsome creature + glad you like what he said.
DeleteAnd those Cornell bird calls at the site are a hoot to hear!