Marcie Flinchum Atkins is hosting Poetry Friday today. In celebration of her new picture book, When Twilight Comes, Marcie asked bloggers to post a twilight photo with a twilight poem. The book’s birthday is this Tuesday, and I’m eager to read it (and wow–it’s earned three starred reviews!)
I often take our kayak out for a paddle on summer evenings and bring along my camera. I’ve been known to pursue great blue herons, osprey, and the occasional beaver as they cruise around our little lake. Last June I followed a pair of sandhill cranes that were parading through a thicket. The male eyed me carefully, and seemed to be leading me away from his mate. He inspired a short poem tonight:
Tanka in the Swamp
Stalking through loosestrife
he slowly lifts each long leg,
keeping his distance.
We dance in the fading light–
step, paddle, step, paddle, step.
–Buffy Silverman
As long as we’re on the subject of twilight, I’ll share a favorite spread from Starlight Symphony, my picture book that was published last year and I think would get along famously with When Twilight Comes.
Happy Poetry Friday! For more of this week’s poetry blogs, visit Marcie’s blog!
I can see why your the spread your shared from Starlight Symphony is your favorite! Stunning both in words and imagery. Coyotes are interesting. At the summit of the hill we live on there is a park with a very old extinct volcano crater. Coyotes live in the park. In the morning twilight we’ve watched one of them “strut” down our street (a hill), right in the middle. When a car approaches, he moves to the curb, and when it passes, he moves back to the center. I think there might be a story in there somewhere.
So beautiful…step, paddle, step, paddle. Your photo is a winner. What a handsome fellow. I’d love to meet him someday.
Yay for twilight books! Buffy — throaty-coyote!! Genius!
I love that you captured the backwards bend of Mr. Crane’s leg. His eye does indeed look wary. Your dance is quite perfectly described!!
Yes, great book buddies indeed! The crane reminded me of the heron I saw at Audubon a few years ago. He stood still on one leg, then snap, his beak speared a fish. It was amazing to watch. I never knew that word loosestrife. I love poems with unique, fun-to-pronounce words. Well done.
Buffy, this picture is DIVINE! Wow! And thank you for this tanka too. “Loosestrife” is such a cool word. And I think our books would make excellent friends!
“Loosestrife”! That alone is inspiring. 🙂
Those times of our days offer such beauty & solace, Buffy! Thanks for both poems. I envy you your kayaking out in the swamp. My students and I studied sandhill cranes & participated in their journey south one year, helping the count, observing their behaviors, loving their calls. They are special!
Those times of our days offer such beauty & solace, Buffy! Thanks for both poems. I envy you your kayaking out in the swamp. My students and I studied sandhill cranes & participated in their journey south one year, helping the count, observing their behaviors, loving their calls. They are special!
I adore sandhill cranes, and just saw early migrators in Wisconsin last week.
Also love “loosestrife”!!
Lovely rhythm in your tanka and gorgeous pic of the crane! And how enchanting your spread is from “Starlight Symphony,” thanks for all Buffy!
What a gorgeous crane! My favorite line is “we dance in the fading light,” and I love that the weeds are called loosestrife – wholly evocative, and their own little piece of the art.
Ooh, I love these two books as book buddies! Perfect! xo
How special that you saw and captured a sandhill crane! Love your tanka ending with the rhythm of paddling. Your book page pairs nicely with Marcie’s.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a sandhill crane in person. The poem captures your pas de deux well!
Buffy, that crane is so interesting, its earthy tan made me think it was a mammal at first glance. “Bugler” is such a clever, descriptive noun. Love it!
That sandhill crane is gorgeous, Buffy. Thank you for sharing the photo and your tanka. “Stalking through loosestrife” is so awesome. Congratulations on your book, Starlight Symphony. I think you are right, it sounds like a great pairing: the moonlight and the twilight book.
To Buffy: I finally took a look backward and came across your celebration of thought rolled into poetry. Your poem, beautiful photo, and pages from your book are wonderful to read and look at more than onece.