We are waiting for the rooks to rise
the way they rise each evening
the way they rise as the light falls
the way they rise as one
rolling bowling calling squalling roiling boiling swirling whirling
mass of birds
wings spread like hands
against the darkening sky
circling once
twice
then settling again
black leaves
black fruit
black birds
carved out of nothingness
and I wonder what stories
they tell themselves
about how it is
to be a rook.
For Lill at dVerse OLN.
Now i remember why I love your rook poems.
LikeLike
My muse has black wings…
LikeLiked by 1 person
💙
LikeLike
I love how you returned to the rooks, they are amazing when amassed
LikeLike
I like their acting as one, there is something to be said for unity, especially when flying.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sarah,
I’ve seen starlings do this, in some sort of gestalt flight pattern, and its amazing. So beautifully described here I can see it in my mind’s eye, and from a distance “black leaves/black fruit/ black birds/carved out of nothingness”
pax,
dora
LikeLike
I can visualize the hypnotic effect this sight would have.
LikeLike
‘rolling bowling calling squalling roiling boiling swirling whirling’
– I love how your poem is so full of movement and hope, Sarah. So beautifully and skilfully written!
LikeLike
The list of verbs….
“rolling bowling calling squalling roiling boiling swirling whirling”…
is an amassing of verbs just as you’ve written about the amassing of rooks. I think they must be your totem! 🙂
LikeLike
I could do a rook book!
LikeLike
You gave them perch.
LikeLike
I can see them in the sky a swirling mass of flapping wings…
LikeLike
Wonderfully strong visual imagery, Sarah. Rookerrific!
LikeLike
This was fascinating Sarah. Loved the energy and motion, so well written!
LikeLike
I love this!
LikeLike
Great poem.
I especially like these lines,
the way they rise as one
rolling bowling calling squalling roiling boiling swirling whirling
You brought this vision to life with a wonderful combination of words.
LikeLike
I like the repetition of “the way they rise” in the first few lines, it builds into the lovely string of action verbs that create such vivid imagery! Then the repetition of black “carved out of nothingness” is so magical! 👏👏
LikeLike
They are quite a sight aren’t they in the evening. You invoked their journey so vividly. I can hear them now 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
“the way they rise as one
rolling bowling calling squalling roiling boiling swirling whirling
mass of birds”
Loved this!
LikeLike
I understood ‘rook’ is a bird, wanting to know more I googled him. ‘A large, gregarious, black-feathered bird’ seen in the ‘Palearctic realm’ ~ fascinating ~ your poetry describes them beautifully.
LikeLike
Sigh. Absolutely beautiful. I love the wordplay and internal rhymes………a feast of a poem!
LikeLike
I enjoy how the question at the end bring us from being observers to participants, pulling us into their minds, holding us there. Well done ~peace, Jason
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad that worked. I wasn’t sure. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved this! Flocks of birds flying together, bending and shaping like someone shaking a carpet. A beautiful image ☺️💕
LikeLike
“rolling bowling calling squalling roiling boiling swirling whirling”
both strongly visual and onomatopoeic! Wonderful description of the sight.
LikeLike