Fledgling Attachment

(Holiday Observations from the terraced heights. Die or fly, which was it)

When I was gone from Brixham
thoughts of mine would take flight,
gather speed and without the slightest
effort, wing their way back to the last
days of June.

I found myself focusing on a view,
five counties to the west of home, on
a weathered, weed ridden roof stack,
high in the terraced heights, looking down on an historic town.

There a pair of sea gulls had invested
their time, building a nest in a spot
between two of five chimney pots, caked
in guano, bleached white and baked hard
by sun's burn.

From a balcony I had watched two chicks
receive nurture, pitifully one fell out of bed to tumble helplessly into guttering.
The parents, all a flutter tried their best
to coax their fledgling back to the safety of its nest, to no avail.

When we left, the chick was frail,
his plight uncertain and I wondered
whether he would fly or die.
Succumb to starvation or exhaustion.

Three months later, I have returned.
No trace of gulls, while the recent heavy rain, has washed all that remained, complete with caked guano, clean away.
I came to the conclusion that finding a solution has reached a dead end.

Author's Note

The layout of this poem, has not appeared as I intended. Must be a gliche as I can't correct it. Sorry.

Reviews

[R.E. Ray]

Nature is beautiful and brutal, and cleanses it’s own. You’ve captured that so well here, Chris. And, how many of us want to save that fledgling from the gutter? It’s what we know and do, but it’s not how other species exist in the natural world. So, we’re left with dead ends that birds never see... or so it seems here. A beautiful but tragic story in poetic form. A true pleasure.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for this lovely review Robert. Truth be known, I am far too sentimental when it comes to nature's creatures. When I expressed to my family, weeks later my concern for the Brixham fledgling they just smiled and shook their heads. I appreciate your encouragement.

Chris

[R.E. Ray]

You're welcome, Chris. Always a pleasure to read your work.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

This is as sad as the sky here today. The clouds slit open their veins and rained in a torrent. The sky like gray ash. I am fascinated every day watching the various birds that come to feed, bathe, and play in my yard. I love everything from the pacing back and forth of the thinking crow that reminds me so much of a ponderous priest to the bright-coated cardinals that sing so pretty as they watch over their mates and the incessant knocking of the downy woodpecker in the middle of the morn. Then, there's a moment of quiet and the scatter of a few feathers in the yard … the telltale signs that Mr. Hawkins (a red-tailed hawk) ordered take out. Nature is full of beauty and tragedy but always beauty, always so much beauty. This was a very introspective poem that only a poet's eyes can see and appreciate.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for this lovely review Linda Marie. Please accept my apologies for not thanking you sooner. My mistake.

Chris

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

You're very welcome, Chris. :-)

[Chris Shaw]

I did read it at the time Linda but the screen is so small on my phone that I missed it when I did my thank yous:)

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

No worries. It's all good. :-)

[Anjeline]

Wonderful and interesting poem giving a description of the beauty and wonder of nature ( the way small birds built and protect both their best and younger ones) and the reality of the world also where Darwin's theory of selection- the fittest survives only works. I personally loved the title as fledgling is the word which was used by me in my first English poem I ever wrote.
Very nice work :)

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Anjeline for your lovely review. All good wishes.

Chris

[Anjeline]

You're welcome :)

[Beccy]

The analogy you make of the natural order of things and our predisposition to find conclusions and solutions to the insoluble, was both subtle and beautifully composed.

Loved the whole poem; and that last stanza set the perfect seal for me.

Beccy.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Beccy. Yes sometimes we just have to accept what happens without questioning. Always good to receive your lovely reviews. All good wishes.

Chris

[emmajoy]

Has been said that wars lessen the human weight on our planet and. that Nature is permanently at war with itself.. I find the two statements tragic.. but understand the second more than the first. Tis natural for the heart and mind to want to nurture, protect,love and cherish, but, we can't be everywhere for everyone, whether creature or human. Isn't that a terrible yet logical thought. Your poem has such credibility. it shows the graciousness of the you, Chris, uncynical, generous spirit.. thank goodness for the writer of such delicate thoughts.

[Chris Shaw]

How right you are, Em, you can not be there for everyone or every living creature. We are very limited in what we can do and yet empathy is much stronger in some of our species than others. I have a huge regard for nature, while accepting she has her own rules and regulations and we have to stand back and accept that however distasteful it might seem. Many thanks for your visit while also wishing you a happy week-end.

Chris

[emmajoy]

Bring on more empathy than cynicism and arrogance sez I !

How I agree with you about Nature, we human beings could learn so much from it.. if of course, we're prepared to respect it far, far more.

Wishing you time to be you and smiles galore, Chris.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

and you leave us wondering...did it die or survive...my money is on survival...

love the dead end idea...everything in life is moribund...and will get there sooner or later...we need to appreciate the beauty of animals and people for as long as we have them.
nicely done.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Yes, far more appreciation for what counts. Animals and people, I like that. So often they aren't appreciated, particularly the vulnerable ones. Many thanjs Jacob.

[Lea Sheryn]

A nice view of nature as it is. It not always perfect but it is inspiring.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Lea. Yes without doubt nature can be as inspiring as she can be cruel. Always two sides to every story.

Chris

[Lea Sheryn]

True and we should look at both sides. Life isn't always sunshine and roses.

[Eilis]

My son has just finished memorizing The Exposed Nest by Robert Frost, so of course, I have as well :)). Your poem put me in mind of that because of the lost bird. It’s a terrible situation. We’ve found baby birds on the ground from time to time and tried to save them, but there’s little to do. Their lives seem so fragile and slip away so quickly.

But your poem outlines the mystery. So much of what happens in the natural world remains behind a veil for us. It is difficult for us to grasp the quickness of the life spans of so many animals, but at the same time we are aware of the prevalence of death in their world. But it’s never easy to be set face to face with it.

I like the way your poem leaves the reader to decide as much as the writer must. We live in cycles and there are more things we can’t know than things we can. Your poem states that beautifully, Chris. We can return, but the world will always be changed. Ever-moving. Lovely work, here.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Eilis, another poem suggestion for me to read and I thank you for that. How delightful for you and your son to share poetry. I will be sure to read Robert Frost's The Exposed Nest. Yes nature can be cruel. I learned that at an early age. All those birds with broken wings we put in shoe boxes overnight, to try and save. Not one attempt was successful Eilis. So sad, but that's the way it goes. Does pluck on the old heart strings though, doesn't it? We can't be sure what happened to our chick, but today I checked out the sea gull hospital which is only 100 yards from where we are staying. Had a lovely chat with an old guy running it. He said that if the chick was about to fledge (and we think it was), then he thinks it would eventually have got back into its nest. I am hoping that was the case. So good for you to share. Many thanks.

Chris

[Eilis]

You’re welcome, Chris. I’m so glad to hear there’s a possibility that the little bird made it.

[Coyote Poetry]

The nature lesson can be hard and cold.
"When we left, the chick was frail,
his plight uncertain and I wondered
whether he would fly or die.
Succumb to starvation or exhaustion."
Fly or die? A lesson for us too. I loved the poem shared dear Chris. Thank you for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Coyote. I am pleased you enjoyed the read. Always good to have a visit from you my friend.

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

Always my pleasure dear Chris and you are welcome.

[Fay Slimm]

Yes dear Chris - to have to watch nature doing its best has always been such a chancy business for humans who care - - every ounce of us want to step in and help yet nature is at the limit indifferent to results... a capturing tale and so well told - hope your little chick was able to avoid that dead end................... Fay

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Fay for your visit. You are so right, it isn't easy watching nature at work at times. She certainly has a cruel side. We found a sea gull sanctuary, where there were quite a few chicks that had been rescued. We can only hope our little one ended up there. All good wishes.

Chris

[Lorry]

***Don't worry kids, the chick finally got his act together, climbed from the gutter and went on to a successful career of pooing on a scarecrow on a farm. ***
I'm no pschiatristician, but I am left wondering where your own head might have been on these two trips Chris. The first visit was tinged with sadness and the second was a fresher perspective. Perhaps there is something to this subconscious lark after all.
I do hope feathers jnr made it and went on to greater things. 😀
Beautifully crafted and layered write. I can't get that poor little thing out my head.
Hmm, maybe not have chicken nuggets for dinner tonight 😀

[Chris Shaw]

I thought he probably would have died, but wait for it........, my husband and our granddaughter Beth have found a seagull hospital and it's in the terraced heights only about a hundred yards from where we are. Walking past they said they saw two seagull chicks, all brown feathers, in cages. So, I gotta go there and ask if our one ended up there. They are bound to have dates and where they were rescued from, so it's not all ovef till the fat lady sings :) Now Lorry wouldn't that be a happy ending for the kids? So watch this space.Thank you for your review. This little saga hasn't put me off my chicken dinner :)

Chris

[Lorry]

Told you kids, it's fine 😀