Ode to a meadowlark

May he find his love again!

Photographer: Ian Britton, licensed under a Creative Commons license. This photo can be found at http://www.freefoto.com/images/806/09/806_09_7656---Summer-Meadow-Arkengarthdale_web.jpg

 

 

Ode to a meadowlark

 

 

Ah, rising sun, kiss morning’s dew

Chill breath of night away thou chase

A sprite from trees there yonder flew

But why flies he away in haste?

As I through meadows lonely pace

 

Crimson orb, paint sky with red

On fields, again, new day doth break

Yet from love’s loss my heart has bled

And Sorrow, joy of life does take

As o’er these fields my way I make

 

And I have suffered now so long

For I have lost my love of years

And so near given up life's song

And openly cried bitter tears

When life's great gladness disappeared

 

But burst of color now does dash!

And heart’ning call of bird I hear

Bright yellow through my tears doth flash

And call so trill without a peer

Defeating grief, my soul does cheer

 

Now wind makes low, I strain to see

Where didst the merry fellow go?

Not in the sky, nor in the tree

There sounds again!  Away and low

Another bird calls to its beau

 

Oh happy bird, I envy you!

You’ll find your love again, I know

You’ll have your love as day renews

To warm your heart when cold wind blows

And shield you from life's winter snows

 

Yet still I cannot help but smile

This cheerful bird to his love sings

As I have stood here for this while

Enraptured song contentment brings

Oh, there he goes--he’s taking wing!

 

 

 

 

The Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta). Unlike the Eastern Meadowlark, the Western Meadowlark has a beautiful song as it calls to its mate. You may hear this bird’s call at http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Meadowlark/sounds.

 

Photograph from Wikipedia http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/Western_Meadowlark.jpg, taken by Kevin Cole and licensed under Creative Commons.

 

 

Author's Note

To Mark: the ababb rhyme scheme is called "Cinquain"--see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinquain.

To Mollie: Yep. The Eastern Meadowlark was known for a long time while the Western was ignored. And the Eastern Meadowlark has a very uninteresting call compared to the Western Meadowlark.

Readers: If you're unfamiliar with the call of this bird, I encourage you to use the link below the picture to hear it.

To The Thracian: As always, a very detailed review. Thank you. And thank for pointing out the typo. That will be fixed, of course. And you're right, I do take a lot of poetic license in this poem--maybe that's why I like it so much! And yes, I do switch between tenses. But this is intentional. This is a play between the past and the present. Hopefully the past will recede with the power presented by the Meadowlark in the present. Regarding "wind" and "snows", yep, number changes. I have actually tried all combinations. I like this the best. And "life's winter snows" is quite intentional. My wording is not only intended to be literal as in your suggested "wintry snows". The snows need not be, and usually aren't, climatic at all, but emotional. So I'll leave this as it stands. Regarding punctuation, this is a continual battle. I'm in a sparse punctuation mood right now and I don't think meaning is misconstrued by lack of additional punctuation. But I do like this to be pointed out to me as you always correctly do. So thanks again for your most thorough review. Best regards and thanks!

Reviews

[Barbara Walker]

Rick, thank you. This poem lifted my heart as hearing the bird lifted yours! You give so much of yourself to your writing and to WC. I not only get to read your beautiful words, but learn other things, as well. You enrich us all with your gifts of words and knowledge. Thank you, my friend and congratulations!

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

It's almost magical in a correspondence sense of timing. Correct flow, time and metre if one can sense that with free verse intimater. Master full imagery and connective wording, well done.

[Carrie Manor]

What a beautiful masterpiece, it paints a perfect painting in my head. Wonderful!

[Desert Dreamer]

You have brought me with you walking through sorrows to find the job of this wonderful bird. My childhood was full of the calls of the Western Meadowlark and this well written poem reminds me of his song. Love the way you have interwined life and nature with these great photographs. I am glad to see you giving credit for the source of these pictures. Very well written poem.

[JohnL]

A poem of skill, discipline and above all, beauty. The not often used Cinquain form suits it well. I am reminded when reading this of the work of John Clare and that of Gerard Mamley Hopkins - not in style which is very much your own but in essence. You have obviously worked out the detail of this poem with great care and any differences I would make would only be in style, not quality so I refrain from suggestion, other than to say that perhaps the rhythm and metre are a bit contrived in V.4 with the use of 'does', 'doth' and 'does' in lines 1, 3 and 5.
A poem which brought me great pleasure with its sound knowledge of subject and fine illustrations.
JohnL

[Nancy Lee Shrader]

This masterpiece is still winning. Great job and Congrats once again.

[Ruth]

Wow!
Rick this is moving:)
A powerful poem, reminds me a little of a totem animal, to move one so much:)
All elements infused in this piece lead the reader on a journey, through the blizzard to clearer skies!
Impressive hon!
xx

[Star Wolf]

Your style of writing reminds me of the Master Poets. This is very joyful poem. I really like how the Meadow Lark's appearance brings such happiness to the person in the poem.

[Scarlet Pulse]

What imagery you use for the reader to capture everything. You language is wonderful. The way you wrote about a bird (maybe compared to a situation, or person) is great. Impressive. Good work.

[THE LOST ROSE]

This poem really relates to me because of a lost love. But something so simple so pretty can remind you that life will go on and you wil go on. This had a song feel to it. I can hear and picture a guitar and a mic. The write was soothing to read and also a great reminder for me to see your creativity in full effect. Thanks Rick.

[Ellen Hammond]

I am in awe of your talent! It seems that no matter what style you choose to use, you excel at it. The imagery paints a serene picture of walking through a meadow at dawn. An excellent ode and a very enjoyable read.