Warbler’s Confession
(After witnessing a strange sight in the French Alps, March 24, 2015)
Today one of those giant fowl
passed with the grandest roar
I watched with admiration
how this mighty bird could soar.
But then it did the oddest thing
a most peculiar sight
changed attitude from up to down
descended like a kite.
I chirped and called and warbled
to warn it of disaster
but that great monstrous creature
only descended faster.
It plowed into a mountain
crashed into the cliffs
split into a million tiny
shards and broken bits.
I admit my jealousy
of giant’s perfect beak
its angle eyes, symmetric wings
its feathers smooth and sleek
it’s eagle speed, its beeline flight
its course above the cloud
its noble bold intelligence
its call, steady and loud.
But that’s all in the past now
I’ll never more complain
that I’m a simple warbler
and not a fancy plane.
© 2016 by Violet Nesdoly (All rights reserved)
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I wrote this poem on April 1, 2015, the first day of 2015’s National Poetry Month. As you can tell, it was inspired by a tragic air event that had happened about a week before, on March 24, 2015.
I planned already earlier this week to publish it for Poetry Friday as my persona poem contribution to Michelle’s (and Laura Shovan’s) May challenge at Today’s Little Ditty. Then another eerily similar plane disappearance occurred just this morning, May 19th, Paris time. Oh my! My poem is by no means meant to make light of these very serious events.
Warbler reminds us, too, that it’s good to be just who we are.
This poem is linked to Poetry Friday, hosted today by the lovely Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche.
Violet Nesdoly 
Oh Violet, I feel a lot of heart here.
And for a simple warbler, this feathered friend is quite the looker, anyhoo.
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Wow, that’s some crazy sense of timing you’ve got there, Violet! I also wrote a poem last year about what birds must think of planes— we must have been swimming in the same jet stream of inspiration. 😉 Although mine wasn’t inspired by a specific event like yours was. Yours packs quite a punch because of that… “a million tiny/shards and broken bits” really got to me. Thanks for contributing to Laura’s challenge!
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This encompasses so much more than the plane versus bird, doesn’t it? We believe we have so much in technology. I hear that chirpy warbler singing “see, see”. FYI- I loved your poem on Your Daily Poem today, too, Violet.
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We all need that warbler’s reminder sometimes, Violet. Thanks for sharing your poem. Well done!
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Violet, I love this little warbler… at first I was thinking this might be an avalanche poem! Also, I enjoyed seeing your work on Your Daily Poem. Yay!
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This poem provokes a wondering about the lost flight. I’m watching the news as I write this. Sometimes we humans believe we are invincible. We should listen more to nature and to the warbler.
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There was a Facebook video that went around recently of a bird of prey diving for a fish and nearly being drawn down to drown. Your poem reminded me of that amazing dive. I love your sparrow’s sympathetic heart. Don’t we all need reminding at times that we are wonderful in our uniqueness?!
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Such a unique idea to write from the warbler’s POV. Eerie coincidence with yesterday’s plane disaster. Well done.
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What a great warbler’s point of view and voice.
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Reminds me of Icarus, flying too close to the sun.
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I thought immediately of Icarus, too. I don’t remember hearing about this tragedy — I read the article and was horrified. Your poem reminds us to be humble and satisfied with our lot!
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Thanks so much for all your lovely comments! Life kept me busy yesterday so I didn’t get around to answering them individually.
Brenda and Mary Lee, what an interesting parallel to Icarus you bring up. I hadn’t thought of that.
Glad you all picked up the message of self-acceptance.
And isn’t it tragic how these missing plane events keep recurring (although I suppose in the scheme of things, considering the thousands of flights that happen every day, air travel is still a very safe option)?
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Now I’ll have to do some research on the warbler. I probably thought a warbler was another one of the gazillion types of sparrows.
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Diane, I did try to choose a bird that would be somewhat native to the Alps. I believe warblers fly through/over this mountain range during their migrations. Tell me if I’m wrong.
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Many currents and undercurrents at work in your post this week, Violet – thanks for sharing. And, appreciation for humble warblers.
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Violet, I am just getting around to reading some more Poetry Friday posts. Your poem draws my attention to amazing incidences that are so unfortunate so we must remember that the warbler is grateful for who he/she is as opposed to something grander.
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Great poem, Violet. I really felt that your were inside that warbler’s head.
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