Hummingbird

[Hawkman]

Hummingbird, your iridescence yet unseen,
I trace your passage
by the nodding of the nectar-dripping blooms
from which you feed.

Your voice is quiet,
though I hear the drumming of your wings,
as out of sight
you hover at my garden’s flowers.

[PrinceMyshkin]

How corny would it be of me to say that this poem seems as light, and as flitting as the bird it's addressed to? There. I risked saying it. Wonderful poem.

[Bar22do]

I was going to say the same, Prince was faster, though. Whoever the hummingbird is, her (I suppose it's 'her') wings will drum at unusually high speed and she'll even fly backwards, shy, when/if she reads the poem...

You bring Spring into the midst of the inimical cold! And you treat the little bird with so much delicacy, oh noble Hawk!

Bar

[Hawkman]

Prince, Thankee sir! I'm glad you liked it.

Sweet Bar,

I have it on the best authority that the bird in question finds these lines pleasing ;)

The hummingbird is a jewel to be treasured at any time of year and it is deserving of delicate treatment. That you and Prince both feel that my touch is light enough is most gratifying :)

Live and be well, Accipiter.

[hillwalker]

A nice touch of summer.

The delicate concluding sounds of the opening line could well be the sussuration of the bird's wings.

The 'nodding of the nectar-dripping blooms' is also a memorable phrase.

H

[firefangled]

Beautiful description, Hill. Loved the phrasing and, yes, very light.

[Haunted]

This poem itself is a small piece of paradise.

[AuntShecky]

I've been reading Ruskin all week, and I have to say that were he to see this poem he would find nothing fallacious about it. Every image is true.

Not only that, the piece shows the elegance of sheer simplicity.

Well done.

[Hawkman]

hill, ff, Haunted and Auntie, thank you all for dropping by to tell me that you enjoyed this piece. It was a pleasure to write and if you shared that pleasure in reading it, then I feel that it must have been worth while.

Live long and prosper - H

[blank|verse]

I can only agree with others in finding this a nice poem, Hawk, with an attractively alternating line length pattern. (And I know Devon's warmer than most places in Blighty... but hummingbirds??) :)

It reminds me of an early Simon Armitage poem, 'Night Shift' (from 'Zoom'):

Once again I have missed you by moments;
steam hugs the rim of the just-boiled kettle,

water in the pipes finds its own level.
In another room there are other signs

of someone having left: dust, unsettled
by the sweep of the curtains [...]

[Hawkman]

Hi b/v, Glad you liked it :) I hope on this occasion you'll allow me a little poetic licence :D (Although I have seen Hummingbird Hawk Moths in the garden on many occasions.)

I really must aquire more Armitage, I like his work. I'll have a sniff around on Amazon.

Best, H

[Varenne Rodin]

I love birds. Hummingbirds especially. That's a very sweet poem, Hawkman.

[Hawkman]

Varenne, Thanks for reading and comenting. I'm glad you like it.

Live long and prosper - H

[Twota]

Your hummingbird is much more alive than my bees, beautiful. ;)

[miyako73]

The calm flow of this one is impressive. Neither forced nor over-thought.