A few years ago, I was invited to view my first hummingbird. It looked like a little fairy as it flitted around my friends' upper deck. I tried to take a photo but it popped up and down playing peek-a-boo with me. Hence, no photo was captured, but I was delighted ans inspired by the tiny bird's sight.
The above creative invitation is from the Poetry Sisters.
Pantoum poems are marvelous nuggets of repetitive lines.
You can read more about this poetic form here.
Hummingbird's Flight
a small fairylike bird hummed
while moving through the windless sky
with no care in the world, it shunned
my camera as if it were shy
while moving through the windless sky
playing peekaboo it avoided
my camera as if it were truly shy
then flitted away - beak pointed
playing peekaboo it avoided
photos though fancily dressed
then flitted away - beak pointed
flying backward toward the west
©CVarsalona, 2024
I also penned a pantoum to two seasons, winter and spring
You can read my "Seasons Transition" blog post with the pantoum here.
Exciting News!
Stay tuned for my book review of this amazing story.
is hosted this week by
one of the talented Poetry Sisters, Tricia Stohr-Hunt,
Enjoy the Poetry Friday Roundup!
Day 28 with thanks for their month-long writing challenge.
When I stay at my brother’s house on the lake, I often spend enchanted moments observing hummingbirds as they visit the hummingbird feeders my sister-in-law has hung just outside the screened in part of their deck. You can get a very up-close view! I was most surprised to hear their tiny chirps!
ReplyDeleteDiane, I love hearing about hummingbirds. When I first saw the fairylike bird, I did not hear chirps so thanks for including that hummingbirds have tiny chirps. Enjoy the Easter weekend.
DeleteSweet poem, Carol, and the rhyming is precious--avoided/pointed and dressed/west. They flow flawlessly. I love the image of the "fancily dressed" hummingbird.
ReplyDeleteDenise, the visual of that sweet hummingbird flittting around stays with me. So many people in my community honor this little creature with birdfeeders.
DeleteI can't wait for the hummingbirds to arrive in Virginia and to put my feeders out! I love hummingbirds.
ReplyDeleteThe only problem with feeders in my community is the bear that decided last year to visit the feeders and destroy them. We will see what happens this year.
DeleteOh, I adore hummingbirds -- and this poem! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteLiz, thank you so much or your comment. I look forward to seeing more sweet hummingbirds this year.
DeleteLiz, I could not comment on your poem at your website. Did I miss a spot that notes comments? Anyways, I want you to know that your poem flows so beautifully and the opening/closing line makes a statement: storms bloom like magic. I should share your thoughts with my husband who is lamenting that the cherry blossom lunch cruise in the Potomac is on date that predicts rain. I know I will love the trip.
DeleteOh, Carol, I love that you wrote about hummingbirds, like so many above, they are favorites. How wonderful to use the word "peekaboo" for them, a word I never thought until now and it's perfect! I am amazed that they travel so far in their migration! Yes, it's really hard to catch a photo! Happy Spring & welcoming these special birds!
ReplyDeleteCarol, you capture the hummingbird as a playful child playing hide-and-seek with your camera. We have a trumpet vine out back which sometimes attracts hummingbirds. It is amazing to sit and watch them. Bob
ReplyDeleteBob, I remem exactly how the hummingird dodged my attempts to capture its photo. I hope the hummingbird returns this year so I can stare and watch the antics.
DeleteI love that the hummingbird avoids photos even as he's dressed up. Not a vein little bird, just beautiful. You've captured the experience of trying to capture this fast small bird!
ReplyDeleteCarol, I love how your pantoum uses enjambment to tell the story. Especially that last stanza!
ReplyDeletePatricia, although I did not follow the pantoum's ending rule, I do like how the poem unfolded. It is always fun to experiment with forms. Have a wonderful Easter and get some rest after the glorious wedding.
DeleteI never thought about hummingbirds as fairy-like, but it's true! Your pantoum feels like a story. Thanks, Carol. I'll be waiting for my hummingbirds to return.
ReplyDeleteThe back and forth of the text in your poem feels like the hummingbird's darting-- I love how your form and subject interact. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI love your description "a small fairylike bird." They are magical like fairies. Your poem reminds me how fortunate I am to have frequent sightings of small fairylike birds around my house (in the San Francisco East Bay Area). "Peekabo" is such a great word in this poem too. It captures a lot about what I imagine went on.
ReplyDeleteLovely capturing of these skittish birds Carol, and wonderful analogy of their being "fairylike" I'm looking forward to our ruby-throated hummingbirds return, thanks!
ReplyDeleteI would love to see your hummingbird as an art piece, Michelle. Happy Sighting.
DeleteThis poetry form is like a puzzle. Once the pieces fir the result is just perfect. I hope that one day I will see a hummingbird.
ReplyDeleteThe hummingbird is a magical little animal, Terje.
DeleteEven though you weren't able to capture the hummingbird in a picture, you definitely caught its essence in your poem!
ReplyDeleteAll these animal pantoums are inspiring! I love that you highlighted a hummingbird in yours. The repetition within it seems the perfect form to match the needle-darting zip-around flight of that glorious wee bird.
ReplyDeleteWhat a tidily constructed snapshot of the elusive hummingbird! Nicely done, Carol.
ReplyDeleteThis encounter feels so magical--fairylike, windless, flying backward. It's so beautiful and slightly surreal--as are hummingbirds!
ReplyDelete