They wheel and scream around the block like cogs
that knit and lock one disconnected flight,
yet tied to earth and death as much as dogs
whose masters give titbits, or say they might.
They shit where they please as much as those dogs
whose owners now scoop, or pretend they're trees.
I see them as beautiful demagogues,
which they're not, who will fall like autumn leaves.
The herring gulls pivot in dialogue.
Do dispute, rancour, unrelenting shrieks
belie their singular grey monologue
of flight, the cutting-edge of yellow beaks?
A billion years of surf dispute this reef,
both herring gull, and man, without relief.
Comments?
Sorry, you cannot respond to an archived poemReviews
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Nice.
I really like most of this poem, but the second stanza is so different from the rest that it seems like someone else wrote it (especially lines 5 and 6). Overall, I enjoyed reading this.. Rewarded 1
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Why don't you like the second stanza, especially lines 5 & 6?
Best,
H -
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I never said that I didn't like the second stanza. The writing style is starkly in contrast to the rest of the poem - much more vulgar and biting. Unless it was your original plan to have the second stanza stand out more than the other three, I find it a bit distracting.
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OK - why is it different?
Suppose I live near the sea near a reef. Gulls have been there a long time. The city and my apartment block have been there a short time relatively. The city is vulgar. How do I express that?
If the poem does not get that across, it fails. I guess it failed for you?
Best,
Hugh
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< Thank you !
Your opinion is very important to me. Thank you for your help. I already try to fix the lines, I hope on the right way this time.
Victory
joshwueller
January 26, 2006