Tom-Wild
never smiles
looks both left and right
brown tweed
red-kneed
always seems ready to fight
until scared
wings flared
he becomes an earth-tone kite
colors shown
fear known
he flees to roof-top height.
Copyright 2017 Brenda Davis Harsham
Notes:
Happy Poetry Friday! Thanks to Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite of Indifference for hosting. I set this up to post automatically, because my kids are home for the week, but I hope to get around to see you all soon.
My kids helped me take these pictures earlier this week. We were fascinated to see the turkeys are losing feathers, and not gracefully.
Friendly Fairy Tales 
Love these pictures and this poem, Brenda! Makes me want to cook a turkey…oops, sorry, Tom-Wild! I’ll just get Tom-Grocery Store. LOL =)
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL That’s why he prefers rooftops to messing with us humans, no doubt.
LikeLike
Fabulous! Would make for an Awesome children’s book. 🌹🌹🌹
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Dorna!
LikeLike
What glorious colours and patterns! My mum used to raise turkeys for Christmas dinner – so I’m hearing these gobblers! Great little poem to accompany them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t know you had turkeys in Australia. Thanks for the detail!
LikeLike
How fun that your blog became a family affair this week! Hope you had a great visit!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Keri. We are having a great vacation week. Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike
Brenda, what a fun poem about “Tom–Wild,” I love it, everything fits– Touché!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Michelle! Have a great week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Brenda, you too!
LikeLike
I love your poem, but I have to say, it was the picture of that tweedy gent with his soon-to-be-lost feathers sticking all this-way-and-that that made me smile. I think there’s another poem hidden in these pictures! How embarrassing to be so handsome and yet so disheveled!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Feel free to use a picture and write your own poem. Just give me credit for the picture. 🙂
LikeLike
So enjoyed your turkey poem, Brenda. The short, short, long lines seem to fit a turkey perfectly (maybe they capture the awkward rhythm of a turkey’s walk–or something).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Violet! It was fun to record one of the local wildlife. Maybe one day I’ll get a good photo of our rabbits, too. They are too tiny and too quick for me so far.
LikeLike
Oh wow! I’ve never actually seen a turkey in its pre-plucked and packaged form, such a uniquely designed bird! I didn’t realize they could fly, either!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My son didn’t either, but he chased one onto a roof. Plus I know they roost in trees since they dive-bombed me one morning.
LikeLike
Beautifully plumed….but you are right—the fighting for hens must be fierce!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The flocks are all smaller this year, and the toms are thinner and bedraggled. The drought had to be hard on them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t think I wrote about it, but around January-February, I saw three or so feeding in the median between the exit ramp and the highway embankment. They all looked pretty bedraggled!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are natives, and they are rebounding in numbers. I read somewhere that turkey season is going to start soon!
LikeLike
Then the sick….but that’s not how human hunters have their priorities, is it? 😦 Have to
root for the turkeys!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
A FEATHER ON HIS BACK….AND IN BRENDA’S CAP!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jonathan!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I—or you—had been to long away! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
My kids are home for vacation week and I’m sick, coughing up my lungs. Just managing to meet my posting deadlines, but otherwise useless.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so inconsiderate! Please accept my apologies—and rest well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
No worries. Nice day, today! Hope you got outside a bit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
On my way to work! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I owe, I owe, it’s off to work I go… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
YOU GOT IT, SIS! And bills to pay—right away! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL Health insurance to maintain, keeping down the financial pain!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not to mention car insurance, cable, Publisher’s Clearing House, …!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Taxes. Insurance. Mortgage. The triple-threat!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amazing pictures of Tom-Wild, and your poem captures the essence of turkeys around here in spring.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are thinner this year. I think the drought has been hard on them.
LikeLike
Brenda, Tom Wild is quite the character as he becomes an earth-tone kite. You should share this with Laura Purdie Salas at #wonderbreak.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Carol. What do you mean share it with her at #wonderbreak?
LikeLike
The toms are absolutely wacko this time of year — spring mating season. They are everywhere in our area and strutting around showing off their stuff in the middle of the road. CRAZY! I do love all their colors, though, and it’s amazing how they hide them at times. Great poem! Gobble Gobble!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They were hilarious. They had a female with them, but she was acting as if they weren’t together. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What interesting fellows! Amazing poem as usual, hope you feel better soon!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Kiesha!
LikeLike
Hi Brenda, hope you are feeling better soon! Those turkeys are really pretty in their own way. I can imagine that them falling toward you out of trees would be startling! I like that “earth-tone kite” image.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Tabatha! A nap will either help or ruin me for the rest of the day. 🙂
LikeLike
What a charming poem. Must say, these turkeys are better looking than the ones we have around here — more colorful. Love “brown tweed/red kneed.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jama. They are quite large, but I was surprised at how colorful they looked, and comical with a few askew feathers.
LikeLike
You’ve shown them so poetically, Brenda, that ‘tweed’ and “earth-tone kite” -perfect. I don’t see many, but have in the past, mostly in Missouri, love that you see them often. I saw that someone said you were ill, hope you’re better soon!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Linda. Yes, I’m feeling done in and over done.
LikeLike
Lovely poem, Brenda! Beautiful feathers. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Amy. They are my neighbors. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brown tweed/red-kneed — you capture so much personality and visual detail in those lines. The kite image — wow! I could see it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Laura!
LikeLike
i love that you can write, even in your sick bed. that is real talent. love the turkeys too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL I can even reply to comments when I have a splitting headache, but do I do it well? Hm… I love these turkeys, too. They were right by my house! One time I walked my daughter to the bus stop, and turkeys came raining out of a big maple I was walking under. I thought I was being bombed for a few seconds. They are mighty big birds up close. LOL
LikeLike
Wonderful. Love it…and the picture as well. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Gigi. My kids helped me crowd the turkeys close enough for pictures.
LikeLike
I love this! What a handsome fellow. His name, Tom Wild….is so perfect. As is the tweed. Great job. I always know I can find you ready for Poetry Friday. Cheers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wrote this while coughing my lungs up. I hope I still like it once I’m well. LOL Thanks for your cheery comments each week. I appreciate them. XOXO
LikeLike
Great poem! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!
LikeLike
I’d have never thought of a turkey poem – cute! Enjoy your kiddo time!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Caught a cold. Apparently a toddler sneezed on the salad at Easter. Why did no one tell me? LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks a lot right?! Hope you feel better fast!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the poem and the handsome Tom’s! Cheers to you from Germany~
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Cindy. Jowly birds with red faces and orange feathers… Now I understand why certain presidents feel so American. 🙂
LikeLike