
As many of you will know I am trying to finish this 26 poetry challenge I started during our Spanish lockdown experience. We are currently entering back into that phase here in the North of the UK and I still have three poems to go. However, we have managed to spend time with Jessica Rose, our new arrival and focus of my last post. All is going well.
This poem is forDverse poets open link night, always a source of inspiration and able to kick start me. http://www.dversepoets.com
This poem is about the very successful and world wide species of black kites. The drawing is by Ruth Konisgsberger and is part of the portrait of the character of the black kite in my novel. I will do a post on this as soon as I finish these poems! Black kites do visit the Sierra on their migration, some breed here. However, nowadays the red kites seem more common.
The Migrating Kites ( Milvus migrans or Milano negro in Spanish)
Our Milvana migrates from here,
Here to somewhere over there,
Over the deserts to Afri Ka.
All kinds of kites have flown
All around the world wide web,
Connected by genes from ancient
Almost Jurassic dinosaur times.
Archaeopteryx, the mother bird
First flew the world.
Black kites, by many other names
Milano, Milhafre
Live long lives of 20 years or so
With brains that may adapt
To many different climes.
Some flew over wide waters
To islands in the vast Atlantic
To the Azores.
Some flew to Gondawa
And learnt how
To use burning branches
To flush out scared prey.
Before wild fires spread so fast
To destroy whole forests,
In changing times
With wildlife crimes.
Others in the East
Fly around the temples
Of the many headed Gods
Brahmin souls in flight
Pariahs picking the bones
Of the dead.
Here in the Sierra
Not many black kites
Now fly.
Does anyone care
Why?
Wishing everyone a safe and purposeful time in such a difficult era.
For anyone wishing to sponsor the poems I will put up some new links for the charity Birdlife International who coordinate the conservation of birds across our human borders.
My first time to read about black kites. It is a sad day when we will not see a lot of them flying 😦
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Indeed, some species do better than others. The smaller variety do well in cities in India.
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A lovely bird and poem. I’ve never seen a Black Kite but the Red ones ‘s are becoming more common here.
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Indeed, and more common in our area in Spain, they may not migrate as far as the black kite so the decline in southern Spain may be to do with the African habitats and the migration. Haven’t found much research on it yet. There is also a very striking black shouldered kite.
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I enjoyed their historical journey. A new creature to me…but I love all creatures. Thank you for sharing them.
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Thanks for reading, Mish.
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Love the details and history in this poem. Beautifully done.
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Thank you for reading.
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I hope they manage to save those birds… I do remember others like the peregrine falcon that was close to extinction that now has made a comebck.
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Yes, I hope so too, so much is possible.
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Congratulations on your new granddaughter! Great poem – only two more to go – well done, Georgina!
I’ve never seen a black kite and have only seen a red kite twice before. Such beautiful birds!
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Thanks, Clare, all is going well in spite of so many new restrictions. Hope to catch up with you soon.
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An epic, sweeping poem Georgina. Glad you’re doing well and spending time with your new grand-daughter.
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Thanks, Andrea and getting close to the end of this poetry challenge! Whew!
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Well done! Creativity helps us staying sane, that’s for sure. Best wishes 🙂
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Thanks, Annette, creativity and youngsters keep me going! Keep well and happy in your wonderful place.
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