Communing with birds
I open my empty palm
expecting metaphors to light
like fireflies on my life line.
When I close my eyes
I can see the river Delta,
sweet green tarpaulin stretched
across the hemisphere and those
deep murky waters reflecting the
silver sky.
Fleeting memories disperse like clouds.
Just before sleep I sink deep
into illusory havens hoping to
escape the boredom of life.
Metaphor and Allegory by Ju-Yu Chen
Beautiful poem. I like the idea of sinking into illusive havens to escape the boredom of life. On the reality of communicating with birds in half dream states, our African Grey singing Lola, and changing the words to “lol cat bird”, with “more cowbell” interspersed between his almost coherent imitations of Laurie talking then ending her discussion with a “What?” in my voice, leaves little room for boredom; however, it does sometimes put me into a weird state with strange dreams as twilight pushes the darkness into light, pulling me half awake.
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Lovely comment Timothy, a poem unto itself! I love beautiful birds, all birds though I don’t have any. The talking birds are magical and fun. I can certainly imagine some very wild dreams their presence might invoke.
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The birds and the cats, provide so much entertainment.
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I’m smiling at the visual, they are so cute !
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The Conure is like a perpetual 3 year old, and the Grey is like a perpetual 5 year old. They never run out of creative antics. The kitties are clever and ornery in their own ways.
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They are enjoying themselves I’m sure. These little creatures are so entertaining !
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J’aime ce passage où tu dis “échapper à l’ennui de la vie”
Bonne soirée Holly! Bisous 🙂
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Merci Ghyslaine, a lovely compliment, bonne soirée ! Bisous.
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Woah!! Beautiful
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Nicely done Rene! I love nothing more than taking in a beautiful scene and at the same time living in that lush world of memories and imagination. You describe those moments so well. Lovely image to go along.
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Thank you Dan, lovely comment and very appreciated!
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I love listening to the song and stories the birds tell. I often try to understand them. It is magical.
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They have their own little way of communicating, I wonder if they are using us as metaphors? Magical for sure
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Hmm, interesting thought, actually! Who knows!!
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🙂
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I would love to escape to this delta you write of.
I think you are correct. Life is like a firefly, bright and brief.
I am more horrified than bored, nonetheless, “illusory havens” are required.
Thank you, Holly! ❦
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Thank you Resa, I really must get out this weekend. 🎊
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My Art Gown closet is your Art Gown closet. xo ❤
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Birds are the most beautiful creatures on earth.
Everyday I have this ceramic bowl and I fill it up with clean water for them to swim in and drink everyday. It’s a reminder that they can dream and call their haven freedom.
🙂
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It’s so true Charlie, birds are so beautifully delicate and tiny creatures, I also love the Hawks, Eagles, and birds of prey. They are a wonder. We have thousands of wild parrots here , the trees are filled with them. The last two winters an American Robin took shelter in my porch eaves . It was amazing to watch her pattern of coming and going always at the same time. Take care Charlie, thank you for the beautiful comment. 😊
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Our Planet | Birds Of Paradise | Exclusive Clip | Netflix
Birds are very intellectual species and this made me appreciate them a lot more.
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Thank you Charlie, love this.
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You welcome. 🙂
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So beautiful and the picture offsets the beginning of the poem so wonderfully. You are exceptional.
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That’s a beautiful compliment, thank you Gi. I like the Bird painting too!
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Very whistful Holly, a pleasure to read 🙂
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Thank you so much Ogden. 😊
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Reblogged this on John Cowgill's Literature Site.
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Thank you John!
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You are welcome, Holly!!
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🌹
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🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
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Thank you again John! Roses back to you!
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You are welcome again. More roses back to you.
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Definitely dreamy – but are fireflies in Florida?
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Yes, unfortunately they are all republicans.
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Beautiful poem–I especially like the first few lines. Birds, metaphors, and light–the stuff of dreams and poetry! 🙂
Coincidentally, I just wrote a bird poem.
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Thank you Merril…I will be over to read your bird poem 🙂
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I only meant to comment on the coincidence, but thank you. 🙂
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I know…I was coming over anyway 🙂
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🙂
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So beautiful! 💕
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Thank you Saania ❤
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My pleasure 💖
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Reblogged this on From guestwriters.
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Thank you!
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
THIS POEM ENVELOPS US!
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Thank you John
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❤
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Birds and metaphors we will never understand either. But I love a mystery.
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Now I am reminded of Hitchcock’s. “Birds”. Do you suppose they were a metaphor?
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Of course. I wrote about The Birds at one point with my interpretation. I will send you the link…I actually did a whole series on bird related posts.
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I’m looking forward to visiting those links!
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https://cakeordeathsite.wordpress.com/2018/09/15/the-birds/
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https://cakeordeathsite.wordpress.com/2018/03/04/the-falls/ this maybe of interest as well.
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I look forward to reading this , I will be back regarding your text. , you can always take us a step beyond and I enjoy that immensely. Thank you Mr Cake.
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https://cakeordeathsite.wordpress.com/2018/09/15/the-birds/
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A brilliant interpretation of this film Mr. Cake. The symbolism of the birds vengeful attack representing the “ungovernable sexuality of women” went over my head. I was more inclined to think the birds were poisoned by a toxic environment explaining their erratic behavior. I am going to see this film with a new perspective. Enjoyed!
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Thank you Miss Heart. The original story is a revenge of nature type story, though du Maurier (brilliant short story writer) as a repressed lesbian had a very conflicted view of female sexuality as well. Hitchcock’s misogyny is widely known, though that doesn’t make The Birds any less of a masterful suspense movie.
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I haven’t read Du Maurier, but I plan to now.
I was not aware of Hitchcock’s misogyny but I am not surprised, I’m sure it was widespread among the movie industry in the 50’s and 60’s.
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She is an excellent writer, touching on Gothic, melodrama, science fiction, romantic genres. Don’t look now is a gem and the movie is one of my favourites.
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I am downloading the PDF of Don’t Look Now as we speak.
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Is it Don’t Look Now and other stories? You have to watch the movie as well.
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I will watch the movie, I’m really looking forward to that. The PDF is just “Don’t Look Now”. I hope I don’t get a lot of stuff I don’t want.
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The Penguin classics of Don’t look now and other stories is very good…includes the birds and I don’t think there is a duff one among them. Contrary to popular wisdom I would say watch the movie first then the story, just in this one instance.
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I will take your advice on that.
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Thank you I am glad you trust me.
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Of course I do. You would not steer me wrong on symbolism or any thing else in the arts.
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Thank you, that is a lovely thing to say.
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I’m very sincere on that.
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Hitchcock was very misogynist and only blondes needed to apply. He tormented all his actresses for not being Grace Kelly, who he adored.
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Who could not adore Grace? I have to admit I am disappointed in Mr. H. but the heart wants what the heart wants and he wanted blondes, it seems it would be easy enough to become a blonde if one wished though…no?
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Yes she was adorable. He was a complicated character and a great movie maker, though problematic.
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from what I have hear a lot of directors are problematic. I will have to forego my movie career.
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Demons should be exorcised on the screen not on other people. But easier said than done I suppose.
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Indeed so! I completely agree.
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I am not sure I actually attached the link… I will remedy that and I look forward to your thoughts.
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I am seeing the Birds as more than a masterful Hitchcock thriller/suspense movie, all symbolism went over my head, I intend to watch this movie again from a different perspective. By the way, My favorite Hitch movie is Rear Window. Thank you so much Mr. Cake, I enjoyed reading your take on this.
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I love Rear Window as well, with its very dubious voyeuristic undertones. I find symbolism in everything I am afraid. I look forward to your analysis Miss Heart.
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I am a bit of a voyeur myself, I think we are all curious and The Rear Window is a wonderful example of what we seek when we are bored, excitement and adventure, perhaps danger, even if it comes with binoculars.
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As Pascal said all evil comes from our inability to sit quietly in a room, even if you are in a cast.
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How true. I’m sure I could get into trouble if given the time and boredom. A cast would hardly be a deterrent. Hehe!
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Boredom as an determining agent in human history is constantly underplayed.
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Idle hands are the devils workshop, I’m sure if the truth were known we would all be stunned, look at Caligula.
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Ah old little boots. Though his horse did make an excellent senator.
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Laugh out loud. He was a horrid man, completely insane.
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Power will do that to people.
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Especially if they are mentally unstable. I won’t get started on that or go off on a political rant. 🙂
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I was thinking about the current state and I was wondering what J G Ballard would have thought. He was very good at the whole prophecy thing, his 2006 novel Kingdom Come predicted the return of fascism at a time when nobody else was. He wrote Why I Want to Fuck Ronald Reagan, what would he have made of Trump?
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He would probably assume his prophecy is coming to pass .
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