the king and queen

by Ann Foxglove

Sunday 24th April 2011 3:39 pm

The king and queen are out today

Rip-roaring over edges

Making bulletpoints.

He takes her by the hand

“Fly with me – our eggs can last awhile

In your sweet absence!”

No dove's-tales for them.

Passion hard as arrows -

Flight an ecstasy, a ballet

As together they worship freedom.

Settling amongst a spangle of flowers

He feeds her ants of the choicest kind.

Their beaks gleam carmine.

Many years have they mated.

They know each other well.

Time to take off

As in a love-vortex

their dance-flight spills them

over meadows.

Soon her eggs call her home

To the raw cave.

How many children will survive

Another Cornish winter

Filled with gale and peregrin?

Comments

Cynthia Buell Thomas

Tue 26th Apr 2011 12:08

A superb poem, Ann, full of your own, very special, observances and imagination. I did so like 'settling amongst a spangle of flowers'; it just drips music.

Dave Bradley

Tue 26th Apr 2011 00:36

Loved this poem. Had the privilege of seeing 6 choughs together 9 years ago (if memory serves) near the Lizard. Later, was told that was the entire population of Cornwall, and it was only their second year back. It's great that people are looking after them. Thank you!

Ann Foxglove

Mon 25th Apr 2011 12:33

I've just spent a week "guarding" and monitoring the pair of choughs on the Lizard with a group of RSPB volunteers. Had the most wonderful time! Choughs rock!!

Isobel

Sun 24th Apr 2011 21:14

Yay - to prosper and flourish they may have to look after their eggs a little better, I would have thought...

I do love the sense of freedom you capture in your poem Ann - oh for the wings of a chough eh?

Greg Freeman

Sun 24th Apr 2011 19:55

There's a Ted Hughes element to this, Ann. I like "passion hard as arrows" and "raw cave" in particular. I joined the RSPB on the spot a few years ago after seeing choughs at South Stack in Anglesey.

Philipos

Sun 24th Apr 2011 19:50

So much to like about this poem - loved especially the carmine beaks and choughs so much in discussion at the moment - didn't know they ate ants though seems so insubstantial - may they be forever chuffed - I suppose they can fly off occasionally with eggs safer in caves than outside birds - makes you think this poem x

Ann Foxglove

Sun 24th Apr 2011 13:24

Dedicated to the first pair of choughs to return to Cornwall ten years ago. They are still together, still beautiful, still breeding. Choughs are hanging on by a thread here, only 18 believed to exist in England, and all of those in Cornwall. May they prosper and flourish!

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the king and queen

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