I ... entered the poem of life, whose purpose is ... simply to witness the beauties of the world, to discover the many forms that love can take. (Barabara Blackman in 'Glass After Glass')

These poems are works in progress and may be updated without notice. Nevertheless copyright applies to all writings here and all photos (which are either my own or used with permission). Thank you for your comments. I read and appreciate them all, and reply here to specific points that seem to need it — or as I have the leisure. Otherwise I reciprocate by reading and commenting on your blog posts as much as possible.

24 April 2017

Reason for Shrieking?














Of all hues, 
the most beautiful blue
adorns the neck
of the male peacock,
his long satiny throat
shining as if for joy – 
and repeats at the centre
of each open eye
on the fan 
of his billowing tail.

The feathers
are called unlucky,
his singular cry 
heard as a death-knell. 
Why do we feel
threatened by beauty
so extreme; why see evil 
in innocence? Why? 
Is it because, unique, 
he is far too strange?

Labelled as vain
yet he struts for love,
holding his tail aloft
with effort that tires.
He is calling out
for home and family,
parading for a mate,
as all creatures
desire and need;
not for vanity.

In his Rajasthan home
his display is seasonal, 
pre-monsoon. He heralds 
the coming of rain 
to the parched land.
When I was a child 
in cold Tasmania,
peacocks at The Gorge
strutted, displayed and cried
at any time, sounding sad.

Written for Artistic Interpretations – Beauty, day 24 of April Poetry Month at 'imaginary garden with real toads' (we could write about beauty or peacocks or both), and for Magaly's Protest and Outrage: Dark Poetry for the Cruellest Month.   

– Photo above: "Peacock at Magnolia Garden, SC" by Margaret at 'imaginary garden'.







13 comments:

  1. A colourful portrait of a peacock, Rosemary!

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  2. Oh this is absolutely gorgeously penned, Rosemary!❤️ Especially love; "The feathers
    are called unlucky,his singular cry heard as a death-knell. Why do we feel threatened by beauty so extreme; why see evil in innocence? Why? Is it because, unique, he is far too strange?" (Now that's something to think about.)❤️

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  3. I didn't know that about the cry of peacocks. Read poetry... and learn.

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  4. You make a case for the maligned pea male ;)

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  5. Oh my, the vanity assigned a peacock is so false. Thank you for expressing so heartfully the reasons for such display. I have always thought peacocks were beautiful. There is a subdivision in Houston where peacocks rule.

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  6. They do sound sad, don't they? This is sadly beautiful.

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  7. This is beautifully expressive. We used to hear the love cries of the peacocks when we lived close to the zoo.

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  8. Nicely said, Rosemary. Best reason is a love call? They have come to our bedroom window screeching. Some also did that in Cozumel, Mexico at our room window there. Horribly loud.
    ..

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  9. A visual delight created by your words... awesome :)

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  10. He heralds
    the coming of rain
    to the parched land

    He brings lots of goodness and we are suspicious and questioning his 'evil' intentions. Far from it! Very true Rosemary!


    Hank

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  11. "Why do we feel
    threatened by beauty
    so extreme; why see evil
    in innocence?"

    Indeed! And doesn't he look right at home in the video - he doesn't look "otherworldly" as I always seem to think they do when I see them here in the USA - Lovely, pondering words on a bird that shouldn't be seen as bearing "evil" premonitions or such!

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  12. It seems very odd to think of such a lovely thing as evil. Sad too, because then of course you've cut yourself off from enjoying the beauty.

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