Originally posted on June 12, 2011
The Friend I Miss
We met there on the bridge one early morn
Admired your beauty always when I passed
Always thinking of the hard life you had
Friend my dear I miss you now very much
You've gone away I'm guessing in the morn
You were laying there lifeless on the side
Brave, you died a death you never deserved
Each time I pass I pause and wonder why
I miss the sight, you watching for a bite
Did you have a family I'll never know
No grave no flowers just a few will mourn
Count me one to ponder each time I pass
Photo and Poem Copyright
© 2011 Jimmiehov
All Rights Reserved
- - - - - - - - Prompt word, Miss (Long for), suggested by Harshad Meta
at Space Within: Attempt to put in words....
The Friend I Miss
We met there on the bridge one early morn
Admired your beauty always when I passed
Always thinking of the hard life you had
Friend my dear I miss you now very much
You've gone away I'm guessing in the morn
You were laying there lifeless on the side
Brave, you died a death you never deserved
Each time I pass I pause and wonder why
I miss the sight, you watching for a bite
Did you have a family I'll never know
No grave no flowers just a few will mourn
Count me one to ponder each time I pass
Photo and Poem Copyright
© 2011 Jimmiehov
All Rights Reserved
- - - - - - - - Prompt word, Miss (Long for), suggested by Harshad Meta
at Space Within: Attempt to put in words....
Find more poems at One Single Impression using "Miss" as prompt
Also linked February 3, 2015, to the Real Toads, Tuesday Platform
Note"
- Every time I'd cross the bridge I would look for this grey heron. He would sit on the rail of the Hwy 1097 bridge over the north end of Lake Conroe (Texas).
- Finally one day I was able to take his picture. He would always fly away when I slowed too much. Once I saw him dive for a fish. He didn't come back up so I am sure he went 'out to eat.'
- The day we returned from our Midwest holiday I looked for him. Instead there was a pile of feathers and legs and bones by the side on the bridge where he liked. I hope it was a sudden death. Probably a truck sucked him off his perch.
- I wanted the poem to be able to stand independently of the bird picture. My interpretation then would be about a 'wandering' lady I met who encountered a terrible misfortune.
- It can be whatever the reader wishes. Possibly it might relate to an experience in his or her life.
- Every time I'd cross the bridge I would look for this grey heron. He would sit on the rail of the Hwy 1097 bridge over the north end of Lake Conroe (Texas).
- Finally one day I was able to take his picture. He would always fly away when I slowed too much. Once I saw him dive for a fish. He didn't come back up so I am sure he went 'out to eat.'
- The day we returned from our Midwest holiday I looked for him. Instead there was a pile of feathers and legs and bones by the side on the bridge where he liked. I hope it was a sudden death. Probably a truck sucked him off his perch.
- I wanted the poem to be able to stand independently of the bird picture. My interpretation then would be about a 'wandering' lady I met who encountered a terrible misfortune.
- It can be whatever the reader wishes. Possibly it might relate to an experience in his or her life.
Well, it happens Jim...we just fail to express because of our own reluctance.. something stops us.. well you have brought this out nicely..thanks..
ReplyDeleteSad, but unfortunately it happens.
ReplyDeleteVery nicely done, Jim.
Oh so sad when this happens. Nature gives us so much joy and then life )death) happens. Well done Jim.
ReplyDeleteSad. Beautiful bird. Sentiments well rendered.
ReplyDeleteSuch a majestic bird, fortunate that you were able to see his majesty for awhile.
ReplyDeleteA very nice tribute to a dear creature only you could give such thoughts and feelings of its passing away!
ReplyDeleteWell done Jim, I like your rendition here!
Knee surgery? That must be awfully painful. You better take care anyway! See, what club are we in now? no accident prone club anymore, maybe, "Doc's Favorite Club" na...ha ha, just cheering you up, i know how bad you will soon be up to!
My stitches on my left leg is recuperating fast anyway. MY doc will remove the stitches this afternoon...Arggghhhh must be a li'l painful, Doc pulling all those threads!
I tried to change the background of my WP blog, hope it suits you now...you can't do much with WP really!
A sad death :|
ReplyDeleteO feel the longing in here well ..
Amazing how we get so used to the things / people we see daily ...
Beautifully knitted together!
ReplyDeleteLove it :)
I had similar experiences before,
ReplyDeleteawesome take,
a bird is a life.
it is small but adds beauty to our world.
love your entry.
Jim what a glorious bird to write about! I have for a long time had a great interest in all Heron but the Great Blue is my fave and this "goodbye" was very sweet! I will take any sunshine you are willing to part with or if you would just blow the clouds away I am sure the sun would peek through!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear the story of this grey heron. Your poem is so beautiful and touching. Thanks always for your kind words on my site. Take Care!!
ReplyDeletebeautiful thoughts Jim..yes...we can miss those moments!
ReplyDeleteoh, how sad for your sweet buddy... thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteI read your comment over at TexWisGirl's blog and had to come see. Such a lovely tribute to a wonderful bird.
ReplyDeleteI love herons and feel blessed to have at least one which comes to fish my local pond most days. I felt sick to think of this magnificent bird losing its life this way.
It's nice to know that someone who cares will be missing him. Thank you for that.
That kind of needless ending--the result of carelessness and calousness--breaks my heart and enrages me. You say it so well. I think the death of these graceful, grace-filled birds is a painful desecration.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully sad.
ReplyDeleteIt's good that the bad happened,so no more bad can happen.Here on,for Heron, only good can happen.
ReplyDeleteVery poignant,very well written.
Dear Jim,
ReplyDeleteIt's been a
long time since I've been over to your place.
I like that you have revealed a strong poetic oar.
You never stop to amaze me.
You are still a man busy being born.
Sad and tragic...
ReplyDeleteLucky you have the photo to remember your friend by.
ReplyDeleteThis brings me SUCH sadness. I just love all wildlife and it breaks my heart when they die untimely deaths due to "our" inventions and way of living. Beautiful emotive write, Jim. Thank you for sharing this with me.:)
ReplyDeleteJim, I am sure you do still miss your friend, and perhaps you are right about him getting hit by a truck, but sadly many sea birds are killed nowadays by the plastics they ingest from our garbage that ends up in the water or in the bellies of other animals. Also, many birds are killed by the lead sinkers used on fishing line. If a fish swallows the lead and the birds eats the fish, well...you get the picture. I am glad that you enjoyed seeing him while he (or she) was around. Perhaps a new one will come to the same area one day!
ReplyDeleteOh… how sad! He is beautiful. I saw quite a few feather piles on the bridges coming back from the Outer Banks, NC. I think this is common. I like how your poem stands alone without the photo - I don't believe mine does.
ReplyDeleteI, too, hope it was quick and painless. Wonderful to have your life touched by the heron.
ReplyDeleteOh so sad, Jim, such a beautiful bird. I hope he didnt suffer. It is cool you have been to the Island! Yes, it is so moderate here - Victoria never gets winter at all, they have flowers pretty much year round. Up here mid-Island we had exceptionally mild weather even for the Island this year - no winter at all and our tulips and daffodils are already poking up. The east is making up for it, they got their winter and ours too, from the sound of it. Always nice to hear from you, Jim.
ReplyDeleteaw... Love this poem, if not the sad story that inspired it. Your friend seemed like a sentry, and very regal, too. I do think your poem stands on its own and evokes many feelings and associations. Thanks for sharing this again, Jim, for your newer friends like me.
ReplyDeleteJim -- this has to be my favorite poem of yours.. together with the picture the nature becomes clear, but the poem fits many cases of mourning and loss.
ReplyDeleteOh Jim, this is sad.
ReplyDeleteThis is a sad but such a lovely rhyme & cadence to honor the sight of the heron ~ Thanks for the visit Jim and wishing you lovely week ~ Enjoy your vacation, smiles ~
ReplyDeleteGrace
Back for another read, Jim, and so sad for the heron. When wild creatures get too close to cars , it is never good. I tremble for the baby deer poking along the back roads here as everyone drives at double the speed limit, no chance to slow in time. Sigh. Loved your poem. I love that his photo accompanies it - this way more people will remember him.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes...Jim...this one utterly breaks my heart, (again)...that was a beautiful connection you had with that bird...truly they're amzing creatures. I'm glad you gave me the link to this one.
ReplyDeleteSome spiritual meaning for grey heron...
You are being called to take courage and follow your true path, which will be discovered through exploring your inner self. Find what draws you to action.
I found this here:http://www.spirit-animals.com/heron/
Maybe your heron is asking you to write another different kind of poem for him...
Thank you, for sharing with me, Jim.
Oh Jim, that is so sad. I always get a lump in my throat or tears in my eyes when I see animals in or beside the road. I am aware of the circle of life and know that death is inevitable, but humans should be more careful and mindful of other species, aware and considerate of the special bonds many of us have with animals, including wild ones.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photo, and sad poem – to me, even sadder knowing it's about the bird.
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing this, Jim. ~
ReplyDelete