Sunday, March 8, 2020

The blackbirds returned

My brothers have returned home this week
the blackbird with the red wing.
To give notice that our spring arrived
while singing songs from past memories.

I ignore the Vernal equinox
that's not truly true spring around here.
It is the day of the red-winged arrival
to summer fields they now call home.

From a previous year.
We look each year for the red-winged blackbird arrival as the mark of spring. This year, on March 2nd, we saw the first birds on our morning commute along the roadways perched on the fences and old weeds in the ditch. It doesn't mean that we won't see significant snow yet this season but planting time is near.

Memories of listening to the call of the red-winged blackbird filled each summer that we spent at my maternal grandparent's farm. The humid and hot July and August days were filled with the cocaphony of the males calling while perched like pictured above.

Here is an example of their call (unfortunately, I don't have a video available of my own):



Linked at Poets and Storytellers United: Writers' Pantry #10: March is a month of considerable contemplation
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26 comments:

  1. LoriMarch 8, 2020 at 9:39 AM

    This is one of my favourite bird songs. Robins are still the first bird of spring here, cardinals and chickadees remain all year, but the Red-Winged Blackbird is a signal of warmth to me.

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    1. Joel (@Stranded Tree)March 8, 2020 at 10:07 AM

      They bring back the memories of youth and signal that it's (almost) spring.
      Thanks, Lori. I'm glad I could share a favorite bird.

      Delete
  2. C. SandlinMarch 8, 2020 at 9:45 AM

    This is a lovely, almost fairy-tale, poem. I don't think I've ever seen a red-winged blackbird, gorgeous bird.

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    1. Joel (@Stranded Tree)March 8, 2020 at 10:12 AM

      Thank you, Chrissa. These birds have a special place for us here at the farm and I could share. I glad you liked them.

      Delete
  3. brudbergMarch 8, 2020 at 11:17 AM

    It is so interesting to understand the birds and what they mean in different part of the world. For me it's the european blackbird who is probably not even related that sings in the spring.

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    1. Joel (@Stranded Tree)March 8, 2020 at 10:33 PM

      Thanks for letting me know of the european blackbird. I'll have to learn more. The red-winged is meaningful to us and part of a larger story I'm working on.

      Delete
  4. Sherry Blue SkyMarch 8, 2020 at 11:23 AM

    Such a beautiful herald of spring! Yes, thoughts go to planting soon........

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    1. Joel (@Stranded Tree)March 8, 2020 at 10:37 PM

      Thank you, Sherry. I'm glad you stopped by. Hopefully this will be a production season this year.

      Delete
  5. Sanaa RizviMarch 8, 2020 at 12:59 PM

    This is absolutely delightful, Joel!💝 I love the red-winged blackbird. Spring is just around the corner!

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    1. Joel (@Stranded Tree)March 8, 2020 at 10:40 PM

      Thank you, Sanaa. I'm glad you liked this. These birds are an honored sentinel of the farm.

      Delete
  6. Magaly GuerreroMarch 8, 2020 at 1:18 PM

    I'm with you, in often ignoring the calendar. I prefer feeling the seasons in my bones, letting the change seep into my eyes... showing me the world as it turns in the Wheel.

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    1. Joel (@Stranded Tree)March 8, 2020 at 10:46 PM

      Feeling the seasons in one's bones could be painful ;) - the seasons are in the heart. Even in winter, the yearning of summer can drive out the doldrums.
      Thank you for sharing, Magaly.

      Delete
  7. anthonynorthMarch 8, 2020 at 2:10 PM

    Great, feel good words. Heartwarming.

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    1. Joel (@Stranded Tree)March 8, 2020 at 10:54 PM

      Thank you, Anthony. I'm sure these will be the subject of many more contributions.

      Delete
  8. R's RueMarch 8, 2020 at 2:18 PM

    Tres belle.

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  9. scotthastiepoetMarch 8, 2020 at 2:33 PM

    Lovely finish to this and I like th emotion that the change of season isn't see by the calendar - but life in the fields.. Lovely!

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    1. Joel (@Stranded Tree)March 8, 2020 at 11:15 PM

      Thank you, Scott. I hope this will be a productive season. Last year was a near total loss (in more ways than one.) I'm glad you stopped by.

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  10. indybevMarch 8, 2020 at 3:37 PM

    Thanks for sharing his song. They are harvingers of spring here as well.

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    1. Joel (@Stranded Tree)March 8, 2020 at 11:26 PM

      The familiar song is welcomed each year and we count the days during winter until we hear it again.
      Thank you for stopping by, Beverly.

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  11. ThotpurgeMarch 8, 2020 at 11:12 PM

    Gorgeous bird!!! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Joel (@Stranded Tree)March 8, 2020 at 11:35 PM

      Thank you, Rajani. It will be a subject again as these are a frequent visitor of the farm or I should say a resident of the farm.

      Delete
  12. Rosemary Nissen-WadeMarch 9, 2020 at 4:52 AM

    What a beautiful poem! And what a pretty bird, with a delightful call. Here in my sub-tropical part of Australia it is the colourful lorikeets that mark the return of Spring, while in more temperate parts of the country it's the swallows – in both cases, birds that dart and swoop and seem full of joy.

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    1. Joel (@Stranded Tree)March 9, 2020 at 9:56 PM

      Thank you, Rosemary. I'll look up the lorikeets. Birds have such interesting behavior and songs. We have swallows here that skim across the water to scoop up insects with a single ripple.

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  13. Ron.March 9, 2020 at 6:11 AM

    When, oh WHEN will I see anything but the damned crows? The wait's killing me.

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    1. Joel (@Stranded Tree)March 9, 2020 at 10:03 PM

      Without warning color and songs will arrive. As the wind shifts, the songbirds return. At least I hope so for you. Thanks for stopping by, Ron.

      Delete

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