A Passenger Pigeon Poem
One and Then Another
by
David Staley
One and then another
and then another just the same
Then dark and living clouds descend
with the thunder of a billion wings
A mighty mass of movement
The thick and musty stench
The unheard of sound surrounding
the breaking of the branch
"Here they come!"; the cry is heard
Then movement on the ground
A deadly storm is coming quick
with greed and violent sounds
With pole or net or gun
the targets are the same
Though a million are left for dead
the loss is seen as gain
Then away the clouds arise
A billion to their fate
Dashed to the ground from different skies
to pillow, plate, or crate
The living clouds descend
Each one marked with a numbered wing
Billions are millions are thousands
and then; one is left to sing
A short movie about Martha, the last carrier pigeon. How terrifyingly sad it must be to live out the life of "the last."
At Samhein, Martha, I will call you. What is remembered, does not die.
Picture found here.
And Blue antelope. Wish you were here.
2 comments:
At the Cincinnati Zoo (where Martha lived her last years), there is a small building that houses a shrine to her, with a bronze statue of her inside. So she is remembered here.
Ohio Mom
There is also a monument to the Passenger Pigeon in Wyalusing State Park in Wisconsin (an extraordinary, holy place by any measure). Specifically, it's dedicated to "the last Wisconsin Passenger Pigeon" -- a dubious distinction perhaps, but still a fitting shrine in a sacred place.
I've enjoyed these "Wish You Were Here" posts (and I enjoy your blog in general). Remembering the victims of human-induced extinction at Samhaintide is an inspired idea.
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