suburban pukeko
you walk silly, my big-footed bumbler,
without full control, the legs awarded you
end in the orange spiders of your feet.
you are way further up that tree
than you should be, clinging desperately
and with much feather flapping
as the wind tries to dethrone you.
I have seen your friends already
teetering along the neighbour’s fence top,
they are like plump blue acrobats in white bloomers.
what are they doing up there?
your kind are over-confident, my bumbler,
ill-suited for heights, yet high you climb
up trees, fences, rooves and vines
always completely clumsy
and without apology.
Glenda Lassen
August 24, 2019 at 6:09 amCongratulations. A fabulous portrait of the pukeko and those kinds of people that don’t seem to be able to coordinate their limbs. I really enjoyed this poem.
J L Heller
August 24, 2019 at 7:36 amThis poem makes me smile! You’ve really captured them. 🙂 Great winning poem choice, Takahe!
Marie
August 24, 2019 at 10:47 amAmazing poem ! Hebe is so clever with her words, and she is also MY COUSIN!
Bruce Keatley
August 24, 2019 at 11:32 amWhat an amazing description of the Blue Chicken lovely work Hebe
Catherine Anderson
August 24, 2019 at 2:29 pmSo glad you were inspired looking out that window on that windy windy day. Congratulations my friend
Ainsley
August 24, 2019 at 3:21 pmLove this Hebe
Karina
August 24, 2019 at 7:49 pmCongratulations Hebe!!! The recognition of your creativity and clever observations is fabulous and well deserved.
Graraham Kearney
September 7, 2019 at 3:11 amCongratulations Hebe now that I have time to enjoy your action filled reminder of our lovely bird life only pesky pigeons an tuneless unseen crows here