These wings don’t go far,
or high much.
They rustle the leaves
in the hedge
when summer sits about,
the branches
when summer has flit south.
There is something to be said
for roots over wings.
For a spot to return to
each time,
when it’s warm or cold
and I don’t want
to go far or high very much.
Carol J Forrester 
Oh I love the way you took the position of the bird that stays even in winter… lovely poem Carol
Thank you Bjorn. I actually began by thinking about the robin I see outside work each day and the oddity of only really associating them with Christmas and winter despite seeing they all year round.
The perspective of this poem is perfect, Carol! I love the way the wings ‘rustle the leaves in the hedge’ and the lines:
‘There is something to be said
for roots over wings.
For a spot to return to’.
I get that! My husband has just flown off to Germany for a few days, while I’m staying at home with the cats, my books and poetry. I don’t need to fly anywhere.
I know the feeling. I went to Japan in May and while it was an experience, I missed the comfort of my own home and bed.
There is something to be said for staying put. You give it an air of invitation.
I’m glad. I’m very much a home bird myself. I like my nest and I always return to it.
A gentle portrayal of the little hedge birds. Enchanting!
Thank you Beverly. I was lucky enough to grow up surrounded my small birds and also birds of prey on my parents farm so the variety and sometime simplicity of nature is something I have always adored.
you took flight with this translation 🙂 gave a grounding to the winged creatures
Thank you Laura, I’m glad you enjoyed it. The geese in the first poem really sparked something in me.
You kept this rooted, where there is comfort, and that’s a good thing. 🙂
Thank you. I’ve been told by a friend to focus a little more on what form I’m writing in so I tried working that advice in a little and keep it to two, short, tight stanzas of equal length.
This is so lovely Carol. As I grow older, home has become so much more important to me.
I always been a home bird to be honest. I think part of it is having control over my environment but a lot of it has to do with having my own place for the last three years and turning into somewhere that I really enjoy being.
Yes, I totally understand. I used to travel for business, and there was nothing like coming home. Now, it’s the only place I want to be.
We were inspired by the same poem. Love your metaphor and a different slant on staying/leaving.
Thank you. I thought all three poems were fantastic but I couldn’t resit flipping that first one around.
Resist*
So much synchronicity out here. My wife has been in Eastern Europe for a couple of weeks. I’m the home bird with poetry, photography and movies.
Really like where you went here interpreting the Maksimović piece. Nice writing Carol.
The older I get, the more Home Bird I become! Well done!
Sometimes home is best. (I’m not a good traveler, so for me, most of the time…) (K)
so refreshing.
“when summer sits about”– wonderful