Max keep the arms flapping
Cheers P
-----Original Message-----
From: Poetryetc: poetry and poetics [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Max Richards
Sent: 22 April 2009 02:32
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: snap: catch
Catch of the Day at the Bay
The four pelicans at Ricketts Point
spread wide wings steady on
the breeze, overriding those (how
many? countless) pestering gulls
for whatever it is swarming
under the bright bay wavelets.
Weekend boats are out there too -
stationary - much too far
for us to see how much they're
in luck. These Indian-summer days
teeming with slant sunrays promise
them prompt sunburn or worse.
Black swans - thirty? more!
like a becalmed regatta -
what do they feed on to be so
idle and glossy? Their beach
is all piled seaweed baking.
The sun-rays are slanting lower.
The pelicans at Half Moon Bay's jetty
circle on wide wings scattering
low-life gulls, then perch, fold wings -
one, two, three - atop the lamp-standards.
I clap, but shall feel unfulfilled
till the fourth lamp gets a bird.
Pelican three lifts off, circles again,
perches again. At our kiosk table
I flap my arms and cheer. Everything's
glossy; the fishermen have had the best
time; I'm counting them back in.
The one sun winks and goes down.
Max Richards, Melbourne
Wednesday 22 April 2009
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