Black Kite

 

Black Kite 

 

The Black Kite

Embarked upon yet another

Aerial ballet

Before it seemed to falter

And drop silently from the sky

 

Without any strings attached

Talons and perfectly adapted bill

 Tear at long lifeless prey

Carrion by any other name

 

Although and rightly so

As far as the Black Kite is concerned

One mans meat is clearly

Another mans poison

Reviews

[barleygirl]

This is a realistic depiction of a bird of prey swooping to kill, something I love watching from my cliff here. I also love the way you often will start out a poem with some natural lyrical message which ends up in a startling life lesson (((NUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Neville]

Now let that be a lesson to ya my barleygirl.... thank you ever so much and kindly Margie NUGs always welcome and invariably reciprocated... N :)

[Robert Trakofler]

bad bunny was thinking oh i do enjoy kite flying... and then i was all hmm i never had a kite like that but i want one. And then i looked it up? ooooooooo that kind of Kite and then the thought, one mans kite is another mans bird of prey came to mind... LOL We don't have Kites in the states but the concept of a flock of raptors is very cool most of the birds of prey here are soloists. oops, I'm rambling well this poem was meat to me not poison even tho I'm a vegetarian... i'll just say it was a carrot and not Hasenfeffer

[Neville]

Good on ya BB.. I just knew you would understand being a bright bunny an all.... Hold that hasenfeffer and give me a carrot any time...und thatsuntoldem :)

[Sami Khalil]

It is with great pleasure and sometimes agony that nature gives us the opportune times to watch talons compared wisely here in your words to black kites. I have to focus more like yourself Neville on this drama unfolding. I guess in the cycle of survival, some are not concerned except by its reality.

[Neville]

thank you for visiting these words my good friend.. and yes.. I fear that you are absolutely right on that score... hope you are well N

[Sami Khalil]

You are always welcome.

[Neville]

cheers my friend... N

[Sami Khalil]

Cheeers.. .. ........

[Kelly Scheppers]

I know its the circle of life, but seeing one animal kill another is still hard for me to watch. I googled them and read that they follow fires to catch prey...perhaps a kindness not to suffer or linger. I always get a kick out of you, Nev.

[Neville]

cor blimey.. I never knew about that fire thing... Bless ya Kelly....I just love it when you drop in.... N

[Cherrie Palmer]

Raptors are something to watch and you certainly showcase that here for us.

[Neville]

thank you Cherrie.. they are amazing.... N :)

[Cherrie Palmer]

One time we had watched zebra stripped woodpeckers raise up their chick. The bird was fully grown but the parents still feed it. The the birds stop singing except for the young woodpecker. He kept crying for food.
Then throw the trees with it's wings penned back a hawk dived bombed the oak, snatched up the young bird and was gone. My husband and I were shocked at the speed the hawk maneuvered in a wooded space. Seconds later all the birds started singing again.

[Neville]

bloomin heck, its a darn cruel world without a doubt...

[DIVYA]

There’s always a message in your lines that hits home with alacrity. The drama unfolds in the sky yet has truths that apply everywhere above and below. Carrion brings to find a special kind of loathsome creature. One that’s still needed to balance nature :)

[Neville]

thank you for your thoughts on these scribbles DIVYA, much appreciated too they are.... N :)

[Lydia Shutter]

Wise advice hidden between the line of your words, Neville. What is prey and what is poison? Depends upon who is deciding, n'est pas? Good one. Lydi**

[Neville]

Many thanks Lydi** and yes... how bloomin true eh' take care.... N :)

[Ken Simm.]

Strange I've just done a series of pictures called Red Kite Mornings. Not so niave as to think this is purely about the rare Black kite.
They used to be as common as sparrows dontyerknow. But then even sparrows were on the red list until recently.
You know this appeals to the ornithologist in me despite what I wrote above. Stellar poetry.

[Neville]

Many thanks Ken.. you are of course quite write.. aint they just magnificent.. I love the way they tumble and fall through the air as if having so much fun... you do know ya birds dont ya sir.. I have been an avid twitcher since almost knee high to a grasshopper warbler..... :)

[Ken Simm.]

So can you still hear a grasshopper warbler. I knew I was getting old when I go no longer hear one. And of course there was also the fact that I am deaf. You are more than welcome

[Neville]

Hello Ken.. I have not seen or heard one in the UK ever... However, we have them in my now wilderness garden in the mountains of Bulgaria and my word dont they sound like the real thing.... N

[Crowley]

I love the Kites, I can lay on a beach and watch them on the thermals all day, beer in hand, looking away briefly at the bikini clad woman walking by, when I look back up they are still there. Thanks for this bit of morning relaxation, I know the predator part isn't so relaxing, but neither am I when that woman walked by again. Loved this.

[Neville]

I know exactly what ya mean sir, it can be awfully distracting when something like that gets in the way of ya lens.. specially when ya on a tight budget... cheers Crowley... N :)

[kentuck14]

Nev,
Now I'll have to keep an eye out for this black kite . . . and those 'road-kills.' This reminds me of certain people who spend their lives tearing apart the memory of others.
Tom

[Neville]

Forget the road kill, it aint going anywhere... I am with you Tom and all the way.... cheers, N

[Beccy]

Magnificent creatures. Lots of Red Kites in this area, see them regularly.

Last stanza sets the scene; instinct is one thing, reason is another.

Beccy.

[Neville]

Ta Beccy, aint they just.. I do miss them.. and hope they make their way down this neck of the woods before too long.... Neville :)