Am now in a very different place where there is sea all around and halfway between the USA and Europe. We are on holiday for Trevor’s significant birthday. However, this poem was written a little while ago and was inspired by a walk in a famous park. I love many of the prompts given by Dverse poets prompts This one was about the surreal in the ordinary. The climate talks were also going on at the same time. It all felt quite surreal particularly as I recognised the Spanish words of a small child. I also wanted to do this walk in response to the blog A Wildflower’s Melody.A wildflower Melody I love the serendipity of blogging. Also check out some amazing poems and advice, examples and interesting folk writing poetry for the Dverse Poets bar. http://Dversepoets.com I can’t keep up with it all!
Donde Estamos? Where are We? or Pelican Puzzle Poem
Donde estamos a child says on a bridge
Crossing with his father near the edge
Familiar sounds in unfamiliar places
Familiar faces from high mountain passes
Donde Estamos?
Where are we?
Diverse ducks on rippling waters
Wild grey geese fly into land
Wild and tame take turns to feed
Clipped wings that long to be freed.
Donde estamos?
Where are we?
Diverse trees some bare, some dressed,
With gilded leaves at some royal behest,
Weeping willow leaves green may last
Next to the far flung Gingko holding fast
Donde Estamos ?
Where are We?
Black fisher birds perched up on rocks
Herons looking down form weather cocks
Cottage house with surely, organic veggie plots
Fresh fish arrives in plastic pots.
Donde Eastamos?
Where are We?
Great African White in grey December Park
Whose wingspan could rival the albatross
Grey squirrel on a grey man’s long grey arm
The wild we tame with foods ever constant charm.
Donde Estamos ?
Where are We?
Wild eyed Pelicans look down the lake
Pink footed geese fly past their palace.
A dull sky with flights of fancy passes by
A skyline of roofs with power to make us cry.
Donde Estamos?
Where are We?
Overlooked by one all seeing Eye
Chopper birds also above us in the sky.
Surveillance city sees us all, weather indifferent
To human fair or peace for species in our care.
Donde estamos?
Where are We?
A small sized beak cries out in hope
By a puffed up pigeon on a post.
Ancient birds with strange design
Greet us with a knowing look
Open up capacious beak that must be filled.
Talks and more talks, but act we must
Who are we to turn our backs?
Who are we?
Where are We?
Donde Estamos?
Will be busy celebrating Trevor’s birthday and then travelling back from another rather surreal place. Let us know if you know anything about where these Pelicans are or hopefully just enjoy the poem. Thanks again to Dverse poets for all their prompts and inspiration.
NavasolaNature 
The Spanish language is just so beautiful. This piece pokes at deeper questions, for me. Perhaps a relationship in question, a pondering of one’s place in the world. Beautiful details here. Wonderful.
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Thank you, yes our place and relationship with nature.
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I really enjoyed the photos and the nature that you shared here. I think I would like to be right there with you to see what you so well described with my own eyes.
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Thanks, it is a very famous place in the heart of a city!
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Estamos en un buen lugar, muy bonita!
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Si, pero no estamos en espana! Gracias para leer.
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Thanks bunches, great read
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Hi 🙂 I love the poem!! The rhythm, the images, and the message and how you wove what you saw into a poem-story. The pelicans look a little different, but definitely cousins of the ones I saw. 🙂 They are magnificent birds!
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They are indeed and under Royal protection!
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A celebratory nature walk in an unnamed park (on an island?), leaving us amused, fascinated, a bit confused, & smiling. If “puzzle poem” is a form, I’m unfamiliar with it; lots of refrains & clever rhyming.
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No a puzzle poem is not a form I know but Anglo Saxon poetry had riddles!
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The Spanish words add such an undulating rhythm to your poem… I could also feel that quite surreal atmosphere you mentioned above…
The major achievement here is the progression, the way the verses flow… very well done— thanks for sharing.
Best wishes to you. Aquileana 🌟.-
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Thanks, progression can sometimes be difficult so glad you thought the poem did move in some way!
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The Spanish makes it so lyrical.. A dull sky with flights of fancy passes by..was my favourite line.
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Thanks, and at least the British weather and its greyness can possibly offer some flights of fancy!
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I thoroughly enjoyed your poem and the gorgeous photos, Georgina. Those pelicans are fantastic, very striking. We have pelicans here but they are much smaller than the ones shown here. I love the photo of the quaint cottage…I think I could live there!
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Gracias for the lovely poem ~ I love the details of nature and felt I was walking along with you ~
Thanks for sharing it with us at D’verse ~
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Thank you for the opportunity and inspiration.
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Actually that question repeated made me ponder philosophy while walking there beside you… so many questions that pops up..
Actually just the question Where are we?… makes my eyes keener…
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Thanks, I did think the words were the inspiration for this but am sure the child was asking a genuine question but was surprised by this amazing park in the middle of London.
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I really loved this piece so up close and personal 🙂 hope you’re enjoying your trip. Beautifully penned 🙂
Lots of love,
Sanaa
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Thank you. Yes it is very wild and windy here at the moment but so beautiful.
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Very nice, and good question. Where are we at the moment, and where are we in our life’s story…something to think about. … We had pelicans land on the lake by our house this year. I guess they were stopping over on their way south. 🙂
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Yes, these Pelicans belong to the Queen though and I think they wish they could fly. Thanks for your comment too. I really do begin to wonder where we are. At present in the middle of the Atlantic !
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Interesting about the pelicans! Enjoy your trip 🙂
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Very beautiful poem… reflective and sensitive! Enjoyed the nature trip. 🙂
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I really enjoyed your poem and images. I like how you added the Spanish. The child keeps asking which is such a nice touch. I wish I was between Europe and the US right now. It would be wonderful having a vacation, especially a birthday holiday. Enjoy!!!
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Thanks, feels a bit strange being in the middle of the Atlantic but San Miguel is beautiful island.
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Wonderful images and poem. Beautiful Pelicans. I hope Trevor has a special birthday ..
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Thanks, it was a good day!
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GreaTest difference
between human
and other animals
now.. iS.. one feels
tHeir place..
and the
other
only
knows
the place.:)
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Oh, love that! And so true. Thanks!
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SMiLes my friend.. Thanks so much for the lovely inspiring photos and poetic words..:)
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This question can be asked at so many levels.
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Yes, and the child was in a very famous park but for a child…. It all came together in a serial way because of that prompt in December!
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Beautiful imagist poem. You capture nature completely with the precision of the birds giving us deep feelings for the place and the piece makes us ask ourselves, too, Where are we?
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Thanks for reading and your comments.
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So many images here – the peace of life in the small cottage – the beady eyed pelicans (interestingly snow white – the ones in Australia have grey on their wings) and that chopper circling overhead. Such a strange, complex world we live in now.
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