Murmuration Poem by Richard Whiting

A daylight-spanning
squabble-fest for food.
Apples upturned and hollowed,
slightly tipsy, wobbling
towards bread-crust, peanuts
lawn-probing
for meal-worm, crane fly
sun-catching iridescence
emerald jewels
pinned to television aerials
roost-ready
an overload,
a tipping-point



they
rise
launched!


Left they fly in a faded blue
tunic of sky.
Their leader suddenly last,
turn, tu
r
n

caught in
a red sun
right they fly
trail up,
filter
d
o
w
n

spi
ra
l

beard whiskers
swirling
in
bath water
bountiful business MADE
of the dusk sky.

Mesmerised by murmuration
we follow them

with partial
success

across autumn's
rapid loss
of light,
A moon's
momentary
measles

they
c
a
s
c
a


d



e




past, Away and back

And gone.

I re-write the words
of their wanderings
across an empty sky
wondering what
this all could mean;

Warmth, security
fraternity?

the only legible sign
is the certainty,
that we the watching humans
have no monopoly
on fun.