Red-tailed Hawk Challenge

[Brigid Briton]

Update: March 26,2014 Big Red recently started this years clutch of new eggs, soon to be babies. Check the link below for up-to-the minute details (and live camera action!)

Update: The three babies hatched the week of April 23! You don't have to be a member to post a poem in this section!

As I mentioned in "Poet's Community Center", I've been watching a live bird-cam of a pair of soon-to-be parent Red-tailed Hawks at Cornell University in New York. The eggs are expected to hatch at any time now. www.allaboutbirds.org/page.aspx?pid=2422&ac=ac

The challenge: write a tribute in any form to these gorgeous birds!

Here's mine:

He's perched high
above the campus,

his feathers ruffling
in the gentle breeze,

his three babies,
as yet unhatched,

safe beneath
their patient papa.

Anybody else feeling inspired?



Brigid

[diannet]

Oh what a gorgeous challenge Brigid and I love your poem, I must read a little more, as it is the papa who hatches the eggs or do they take turns...

Life
Waiting
So quiet
So peaceful
Two hearts beat gently through fragility
Against each other
Love is born
Well before
The hatching

[Brigid Briton]

Hey, all you poets, where are your entries in this challenge? While I'm waiting, here's an update:

Babies, just days old,
with flight built into their bones,
like dandelion tufts
with eyes and beaks,
wobble and squeak
and dine on shredded pigeon,
their mother’s little darlings.



This photo was captured as a screen shot from Cornell's wonderful website. www.allaboutbirds.org/Page.aspx?pid=2422&ac=ac

You can also follow the updates on these rapidly growing youngsters on Twitter at the hashtag: #cornellhawks

[Brigid Briton]

Hi Dianne,

Sorry I missed your question. Before the baby hawks hatched, the parents took turns on the eggs, with the mother spending the majority of the time there. After they hatched, it's been pretty much all the mother doing the brooding. She does take a few breaks now that they're a bit bigger and the father comes and looks at them, or brings them something to eat, and sometimes feeds them before the mother comes back and chases him away.

It's so interesting to see creatures that are skillful hunters and killers being so attentive, patient and gentle with their young.

[Deleted]

Hawklets in the nest,
Sunwarmed napping three abreast,
Downy flags flying

[diannet]

Nice haiku deefromca, they're so cute and welcome to the forum!

[Brigid Briton]

Hi Dee,

Great response to the challenge!

[gentleanne]

Time is measured
In the journey from
Down to feather

The chicks dream
Of blue sky flights
Tomorrow

[Brigid Briton]

Hiya gentleanne!

What a great response to our challenge! "The journey from down to feather" is a lovely way to measure time, indeed. And you just have to know that, even if the babies don't exactly dream, blue sky is in there very bones!

I hope you'll post more as you feel inspired by these wonderful creatures.



Brigid

[blackbird]

At 12 I saw the movie Ladyhawke,
Michelle Phieffer near perfection
Cursed bound to a life with wings
Ultimately set free, a true love
Ridiculous and unbelievable I
Felt as tho' I watched a lie
For I would never trade feathers
For everyday behind that face
When my words would fall to lay
In the dust where few stood by
To flawless to stir reality well
Only known by the ideas of beauty
While in the wings she left behind
The insecurities that had caged
In a stone church leather bands
Around her talons now on wrists
Grounding her in their perception
With the credits rolling by
I wept she was doomed
To be a lady...
Never again to fly

[Brigid Briton]

Hi blackbird,

Good response to the challenge. A very sad poem.

Lucky for Big Red and Ezra, they will always fly, always soar.