A Butcherbird Called Poem by Danny Draper

A Butcherbird Called

Rating: 3.9


A butcherbird called in the warm even air
From a silky oak apex behind a closed store,
It sang with a clarity and honest sincerity
Heralding days ending all over the Ridge,
As prospectors tired, trudged back to their digs
To dream neath nights opalescent spinning blanket,
A few stark silken verses tipped into smooth silence
And quiescence resumed belying appearance,
A message uncertain, black and white and replete
As if to a ghost town returned to the heat.
A butcher bird silent, flew it away
Over the high street of time drained resources.

Danny Draper 18/1/2014

POET'S NOTES ABOUT THE POEM
On a recent inland vacation with my wife I heard the rich and melodic call of a
Butcher bird while at Lightning Ridge in New South Wales for a few days. Lightning Ridge is the opal mining capital in Australia and is in the arid outback.
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Gajanan Mishra 01 February 2014

very good writing, I like it, thanks.

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Ken E Hall 03 February 2014

Charming recollection of a butcher bird that gave you a theme for a poem at Lightning Ridge, had the same myself in the red centre, thanks for sharing...regards

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Tadasha Tripathy 06 June 2014

It sang with a clarity and honest sincerity. May be the human society should learn it. i liked the poem much.

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Ruth Walters 06 April 2014

Well I've learnt something today. I had to look up, Butcherbird and Lightning Ridge being a Pommy heh heh. The Butcherbird is a sweet little bird as is this poem.

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Lyn Paul 14 February 2014

The beauty of the Australian outback is most certainly amazing as I have travelled the NT & WA yet not NSW. I have not seen the Butcher bird yet can imagine the excitement of seeing this bird. Lovely write and great advertising for Aust.

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S.zaynab Kamoonpuri 09 February 2014

Fabulous wording and phrasing here. Esp admired the blanket simile like. Dark awesome!

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Valerie Dohren 08 February 2014

Never heard of the butcher bird, but as a bird lover I am sure he is beautiful. Great poem Danny.

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Danny Draper

Danny Draper

Kiama, New South Wales, Australia
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