Scarlet Tanager
In a forest in Georgia
on a Friday afternoon in July
we followed the Scarlet Tanager.
Again and again and again
we heard the bird,
always from somewhere else.
I was with some of the men in my life
(husband, son, brother)
as we chased the
bright red male Scarlet Tanager,
playing sounds with our phones.
We were on the point of giving up.
My sister-in-law was waiting for us
with my impatient nephew
and it looked as though
this quarry was not to be found,
at least not today…
And then, suddenly,
there he was:
red
red
red
just as advertised.
The most scarlet sight imaginable,
worth the search.
©Ruth Bowen Hersey
Photo Source: eBird.com
2 comments:
I love this poem of the quest! It sounds like Birdtober has been full of adventure!
Beautiful poem. I loved the ending.
Ruth, the adventure was well worth it. The bird is absolutely beautiful. There is so much hope in nature.
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