Sight Unseen
"There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception." - Aldous Huxley 
Where did they come from? Where were they going? The starlings arrived by the thousands it seemed, flitting at warp speed through the shrubs and trees in my yard.
They flew in a blur, perhaps feasting on berries and bugs. I was too excited to fully capture their visit or songs. When they were gone, it seemed they were never there.
From birds, to insects, to humans, species perceive the world differently. However, I suspect curiosity about the origin of existence does not occupy the minds of beasts or birds the way it does me, inspiring the poem below for Poets and Storytellers United.
Less existential are the conversations happening constantly about the weather. We talk a lot about it, the minute to minute changes and the extremes. It has been hot and dry lately and fires have popped up throughout western provinces and the prairies.
Beach-goers love the cooling breezes and sunny days at Crescent Beach in southwest B.C. As for me, I look forward to and am happiest when I know rain clouds are coming.
Explore more at Poets and Storytellers United, SKYWATCH and Saturday's Critters.
Check out my sites: Postcards from Penelope Puddle and Musings of A Puddlist In B.C.
Because the state of our planet is the most pressing issue of our time, link up and learn about the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report.
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| HOLD ONTO THE LIGHT |
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Pretty starlings
ReplyDeleteWe get lots of starlings through Oklahoma. They kind of take over things in the bird world.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos. Interesting about the starlings swooping in in great numbers, and then out again!
ReplyDelete...Maria, you make this beach bum miss the beach with that gorgeous scene!
ReplyDeleteGreat bird captures and I love the beach photo. I hope you'll get your wish for rain clouds this weekend.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos and words ~ Divine birth presentation ~ hugs ~
ReplyDeleteWishing you good health, laughter and love,
A ShutterBug Explores ~ clm,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Rain is forecast in Sydney for the entire weekend. I'LL send it over to you.
ReplyDeleteAre they a particular kind of starling? They look so different from my speckled ones. Black with golden specks. Or maybe young ones? I always looked forward to the flock of cedar waxwings that would come to eat the pyracantha berries, then gone in a day.
ReplyDeleteLisa, I assumed they were starlings but perhaps they're not. I'd love to know should anyone be able to identify them better. :)
DeleteBeautiful photos of these starlings. Lovely illustrations.
ReplyDeleteWhat a joyous post - so vibrant and full of possibilities- Jae
ReplyDeleteI have only had a couple of starlings visit. When the sun shines off their feathers, it always makes me give a little mental happy dance. Your birthplace poem took my breath away. I love your poetry. Have you ever published them? I would be first in line to get a copy. I am always inspired when I come here. Beautiful images, thought provoking words. Always a pleasure to visit and always look forward to coming back.
ReplyDeleteYour kind words mean a lot. Thank you! I've not published the poetry but maybe some day ........... :)
DeleteWe often see starlings here in Melbourne. I'm always reminded of how On 27 May 1784, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart bought a pet starling bird at a Viennese pet shop. He wrote a melody purportedly sung by his new bird. He included two versions: one that the bird sang (which included an out-of-place G-sharp), and another that was “cleaned up” for insertion into a piece of concert music. Careful listeners will immediately recognize this as the theme of the finale to Mozart’s seventeenth piano concerto, K453. :-)
ReplyDeleteThis relationship between a starling and Mozart is completely new to me and fascinating. Thank you for sharing!!
Deletehttps://youtu.be/AsdfPVM0stI?si=2jmBJIm9FVrXxrH8 This is the starling inspired Mozart music
DeleteThank you for this! I listened. What an absolute delight!
DeleteThey don't look like any bird I know in the Eastern States; certainly not like our too familiar starlings.
ReplyDeletePK
I feel as if I've read that many highly creative people love rainy days. Or maybe I just intuited that because I've read your blog and books, and poetry ))! ( But that's a lovely sunny beach picture. ... Did you know that the collective noun for starlings is "murmuration"?
ReplyDeleteNo, I didn't know, but I loved learning that it is, Sallie. There is more to starlings than what meets the eye or ear. :))
DeleteYour poem is lovely, as are the amazing photos!!!
ReplyDeleteI adore the photograph of the beach goer in a yellow dress holding a balloon.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteGreat captures of the Starlings and I love the beach photo.
Your poem is lovely, you do have a way with words.
I hope the areas with the wildfires get some much needed rain.
Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, happy Sunday! Have a wonderful week!
beautiful pictures...it's so nice when the birds land and provide a beautiful background!!
ReplyDeleteIt really is fun to see the migratory birds! Love the beach pics too!
ReplyDeleteThen you would be happy where I am right now. The storm clouds have been here all weekend... the wind is blowing and it is my least favorite weather.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are beautiful ! We have so many starlings in our park, that it is really to much ! and all the grandmas are feeding them. They are so noisy in the morning and evening that they are a real plague !
ReplyDelete