Seagulls

by Hannah Collins

Monday 6th April 2020 5:02 pm

When I lived near the sea

I had a love/hate relationship with the seagulls.

I wanted to love them and I fed them.

In times gone by they were fed by the sailors who threw them fish

But the sailors left and all that changed

So they turned to human food.

Chicken burger, rye bread, with a splash of vitamin D.

Fish and chips if they were slumming it !

One day I gave the seagulls bread and they ate it.

It was good quality bread, only the best.

Then another day I gave them some bread with some biscuits mixed in.

They ate the biscuits and left the bread

And gave me a look - 'trying to be funny?'

I wanted them to love me but I was afraid of them.

Their piercing scream, their wing span.

They would get the food, then scream and attract all the others

And the original screamers were left without any.

Some say it's the screech of romance,

The roar of the tides,

The crashing waves,

The sunsets . . .

Heartbreakingly beautiful.

Comments

Jon

Fri 24th Apr 2020 14:59

Hi Hannah
I really enjoyed this one. It shows all sides of the seagull.
It's dominance, power and ruthlessness and it's stark beauty.

Jon

Hannah Collins

Tue 14th Apr 2020 20:48

Thank you for your comment Jennifer.
Lovely to hear from you again.

Hannah

jennifer Malden

Tue 14th Apr 2020 09:31

Hi Hannah! Had missed this one, but really enjoyed reading it. I lived by the sea for a year as a child, and there was one little fishing boat still working. They used to follow it into harbour to get any fish thrown away. I also watch them on the ferry, as they use to fly in its wake as it's easier going. As you say they are both spectacularly beautiful, but very aggressive as well, and not at all friendly!

Jennifer

Abdul Ahmad

Wed 8th Apr 2020 14:44

A lovely poem highlighting the survival instincts of the seagulls. Demonstrating how well they adapt to changes.

I like the notion that it's squak is "screech of romance"

Hannah Collins

Tue 7th Apr 2020 18:32

Thank you everyone for your most welcome comments.

Hannah

M.C. Newberry

Tue 7th Apr 2020 15:34

I've spent the occasional early evening sitting in the driver's seat of
my car in a South Devon coastal car park with a lap of cod and chips
whilst a large gull has danced on the bonnet, its beady eyes
fixed on the frequent transfer of food to my mouth. These lines
bring back the scene and I can vouch for their accuracy.

Don Matthews

Tue 7th Apr 2020 00:04

I am a little seagull
Just trying to get by
Cast your kitchen crumbs my way
(But don't like apple pie)

Fussy....trying to be funny?

😛

Graham Sherwood

Mon 6th Apr 2020 22:33

There is something both plaintive and at the same time threatening about gulls. They are masters of deception, well recorded here!

Philipos

Mon 6th Apr 2020 18:22

I know exactly what you mean with seagulls - been around a long time though probably well before humans - sods too at the seaside. Hitchcock might have touched on this inherent behaviour with his film about 'The Birds'👍

mike booth

Mon 6th Apr 2020 17:20

Nice one, Hannah. i like the whimsical touch of the seagulls looking at you and asking if you are trying to be funny! Funnily enough just this morning a seagull flew over our garden and my mind turned to Bristol, where my brother lives and the seagulls are VERY loud and screechy. seems like Manchester gulls are more reserved... maybe unlike the people! Keep on writing! Love, Mike x

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