Birds! (a Tanka)

A flock of Corella’s

Graceful Doves

Grey Fantails, very swift and agile (challenging to photograph)





Birds! (a Tanka)

I stand here and sigh
As all the birds fly past me
Chirping happily
I stand here and wonder why
Freedom is only for them








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Until Eyes Hear Sound

Lulu Books >>  Until Eyes Hear Sound (lulu.com)




Perceptions:

Amazon >>  Perceptions : Steven, Ivor, Knight, Derrick: Amazon.com.au: Books
Lulu Books >>  Perceptions (lulu.com)




Tullawalla:

Amazon >> Tullawalla A Meeting Place Where My Empty Hands are Full of Memories and Rhymes : Steven, Ivor: Amazon.com.au: Books



OR: >> You may email me directly for a signed copy at
ivorrs20@gmail.com



Ivor Steven © April 2025

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ivor20

G'day, and welcome to my blog site. My name is Ivor Steven, I live in Geelong, Australia. I'm an ex-industrial chemist, and a retired plumber, and a former Carer of my wife(Carole), for 30 years, who suffered from severe MS. I Write poetry about those personal thoughts, throughout and beyond my life as a Carer. I've been blogging for over 2 years, and writing poems for 19 years. Of course a lot of my poems are about my favourite subject Carole, but since I've been blogging my writings have become quite varied, humourous, mystical, observational, and even a few monster/horror poems.

42 thoughts on “Birds! (a Tanka)”

  1. No other species has THINGS. They don’t need movers or pockets. They might protect their nests during mating season, but otherwise, they have no fixed address, don’t need to shop for food or clothing. We are overwhelmed by things and without a lot of those things, we would die. So, in my opinion, all the other species are free from things and that gives them real freedom. Having said that. I love my stuff. I don’t think my cat, Bunny, cares about any of it, but she does like to sleep on the bed and have good food, so there is that. Homelessness is freedom and you can see what that looks like. Humans don’t really fit in. We don’t belong here.

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      1. Our species is from somewhere else that’s why we need so many thing to protect us from everything. We need all kinds of things to stay alive. Think about how many of us would be dead without medication. Animals are stronger than we are. They die because we kill them. We die, without the things that protect us, because we’re weak.

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      2. We are not worthy …

        “We Are Not Worthy, Nor Grand”

        The Time-travellers have been and gone
        Transcending the stars and beyond
        Leaving us The message carved in stone
        Obvious warnings, pointing the bone
        “You are not worthy, nor grand
        to care for Mother Earth’s beautiful land”
        Decrying our humankind’s faults
        Locking our world’s children in vaults
        Poisoning our plants, rivers, and seas
        Contaminating the air we breathe
        Burning our forests
        Vehicle fumes
        Nuclear bombs
        Rulers greed
        Before we even feed
        Our fellow-man
        Slaughter upon slaughter
        Like we’re lambs
        Guns and bullets
        Millions for every bloody stand
        Like seeds in our hands
        Not giving life, only death and sand
        We are not worthy, nor grand
        It’s time, to make a stand
        Who’s going to lead our band

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    1. Thank you for your kind words, Nancy … oh, those photos … I think I’ve become a compulsive birdie photographer … Frankie thinks I’m crazy 🤪 … he sits there with a bemused look, while I rush around the trees taking pictures of anything that flies into the sky 😀🌳🌏🦅

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  11. I think your bird photos are fabulous! It’s such a joy to see the birds fly in groups…to see their magnificent wings…to see them float and soar about the world’s problems…they DO seem so happy, so free! 🙂
    Fabulous Tanka AND song, too! 🙂 🙂
    It’s so wonderful that Sir Frankie is a patient fellow who watches you while you watch and photograph the birds! 😉 😀
    (((HUGS))) ❤️❤️❤️

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    1. Yes, as Leonard Cohen said in his song “Anthem”

      Ah, the wars they will be fought again
      The holy dove, she will be caught again
      Bought and sold, and bought again
      The dove is never free

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