Seeded Earth

photography and thoughts about nature and travel in the Midwest

Portrait of a Peacock


PLUMAGES

We’ve been wearing a winter coat
like drab and tired feathers
and an old beaten hat
like a drooping crest.

Grey days, grey skies, grey hearts.
Barnyard birds of routine,
low horizons, chicken wire souls.
We peck at what’s given us.

Why don’t we wake up early
tomorrow and catch the sun
in the drop at the end
of the drain-pipe?

Why don’t we sing to the moon
for a change and ask foxes
to dance their tangos
and wild tarantellas?

And then let’s change clothes
with phoenixes
and steal thunder
from the peacocks.

Then we’ll stand arrayed in opal
and emerald plumage,
in scarlet and tangerine
and pinions of azure and silver.

Then we’ll be kings and queens
among daisies and irises,
in poppy-fields and thyme-gardens,
through the bluebells
and even among the roses!

Then we are the crested emblems
of life in the air,
life among flowers,
life even in the barnyards
and the crates off to market.

Let’s never take off
these beautiful clothes.

from my poetry friend, Kate

photograph, Milwaukee County Zoo
Milwaukee, WI

March 2, 2008 - Posted by Bo | Milwaukee WI, Olympus E 510, Wisconsin, nature, photography, poetry | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

20 Comments »

  1. incredible texture

    Comment by jpt | March 2, 2008

  2. I love the color and texture in the picture. That’s an incredible bird.
    I love the details you can see in the picture. What type of lens are you using to get that quality of detail?

    Comment by ladypercy | March 2, 2008

  3. Striking images both the photo & the poem - made to go together like birds of …

    Comment by Gandalf | March 2, 2008

  4. What a beautiful close-up! Hello!

    Comment by Lisa's Chaos | March 2, 2008

  5. Wonderful poem and photo. I’ve never been this close to a peacock, and the tiny curly feathers are such a surprise, especially since one always concentrates on their tail plumage.
    Aiyana

    Comment by Aiyana | March 2, 2008

  6. Wow! The colors are amazing :)
    Susan
    http://www.organicsyes.wordpress.com

    Comment by organicsyes | March 2, 2008

  7. Such a stunning up close shot of this Peacock and the poem to get along with it! Bravo!

    Comment by mon@rch | March 2, 2008

  8. That’s a beautiful photo, and please tell Kate I love her writing!

    Comment by montucky | March 2, 2008

  9. wow! what brilliant colors and details. most certainly worth the trip!

    Comment by jeanabaena | March 2, 2008

  10. Gorgeous!

    Comment by Nicole | March 2, 2008

  11. Absolutely beautiful. I love the detail and colors! Great poem by Kate. :)

    Comment by Anna Surface | March 3, 2008

  12. Fantastic! What a great job you did on this one!

    Comment by Heyjules | March 3, 2008

  13. Gorgeous photo and I enjoyed the poem Barbara. Hope you are well.

    Comment by Lesley Smitheringale | March 4, 2008

  14. Birds are so wonderful. Especially colorful ones. And they sing on top of all this visual beauty. They fly. God was in a very good mood when he created birds.

    Comment by davidlind | March 4, 2008

  15. wow, what a lovely close up portrait. the detail is exquisite!

    Comment by ankush | March 4, 2008

  16. EXQUISITE…no pallet or design can match that of nature!!
    Good shot!

    Comment by gypsy-heart | March 4, 2008

  17. What an absolutely marvelous poem, and I was already so impressed by the jewel like clarity of your peacock mug shot.

    Two lady talents, muy formidable.

    Comment by amuirin | March 5, 2008

  18. [...] Richard Brautigan: Everything smelled of sheep.   Do you like Chet Baker? No? Well how about peacocks? Oh c’mon, you finicky little hasboro sausages, you must like something.    Aos will cure [...]

    Pingback by stuff that penetrated my self absorption « Stop & Wander | March 5, 2008

  19. Wow! This is gorgeous. :) I enjoyed the poem, too.

    Comment by Robin | March 6, 2008

  20. I came over from Amuirin’s. What a gorgeous shot. Almost looks surreal. Wonderful.

    Comment by Smiler | March 8, 2008

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