is the thing with feathers,
(seagulls fishing Washington state)
that perches in the soul,
(puffin in the open ocean off Washington state)
and sings the tune without the words,
and never stops, at all.
(Steller’s jay California).
I’ve heard it in the chillest land,
and on the strangest sea,
(dark-eyed junco California)
yet never in extremity,
(American robin Washington state)
it asked a crumb of me.
(red winged blackbird Washington state)
Cheers to you from Emily & her winged harbingers of hope~
Poem extracts, ‘Hope is the Thing With Feathers,’ Emily Dickinson.
Gorgeous pics as always Cindy. I have been looking at Dickinson’s poem this afternoon so it was lovely to see your related post in the in-box! X
Oh my goodness, Jung would call this synchronicity and I would agree with him!
I like the way you juxtaposed the poem with the birds. And those puffins! And I’ve never seen a Stellar’s jay full on like that, crest up with the blue stripes!
Thank you so much! I call Steller’s Bowie Birds because of their Bowie mohawk! ♡´･ᴗ･`♡
It’s pretty striking. I used to have a common yellowthroat in the thicket out my window I called the bandit finch because of his mask.
That has to be true Cindy, because they manage very well in this world. They spread so much joy with their birdsong and beauty.
Leslie xoxo
They are splendid creatures and I am happy you love them too!
Truly inspiring….
Honored. Thank you.
Wonderful pictures of these birds. I love the puffin especially, but they are all very good,
You are very kind & most appreciated ♡´･ᴗ･`♡
Puffins are the absolute cutest! One day, I’ll travel to where they live, so I too may photograph them.
I always miss them by a feather. Seeing them in the ocean was quite unexpected. We are heading to The Faroe Islands soon and they should be there in mass so I can hopefully get close to lots of them. I am excited that you will travel to them too and very much look forward to your photos.
Lovely collection to go with the line <3
Grazie mille Joey ♡´･ᴗ･`♡
I think Emily would have loved your exquisite photos illustrating her poem Cindy!🥰
What an incredible honor that would be! Thank you <3
Fabulous photos. And puffins always make me smile 🙂
They are the ultimate smile provoking birdies & thank you Mary!
A beautiful weaving of poetry and gorgeous photos of the winged harbingers of hope…puffins off the coast of Washington State, I can’t believe it!
That is EXACTLY what I thought when I saw them, “you’re puffin kidding me!!”
Smiling…Thank you for your kind words.
Perfect wordplay, Cindy, now I’m smiling!
And you just passed the smile onto me. Thank you!
Lovely post, Cindy. Your shots are gorgeous, and the sentiment sweet and beautiful!
You are a lovely friend Resa ♡´･ᴗ･`♡
♡´･ᴗ･`♡
Wonderful close shots of the birds! The junco is my favourite! 🙂
Thank you. I love Junco’s too and see them rarely. They are so delicate and pretty.
Beautiful, pictures and Poem!
Grazie mille ♡´･ᴗ･`♡
Fabulous mixed media, Cindy!
Honored! Thank you Pam <3
I have always enjoyed Emily Dickinson and you have added to the beauty of her words.
You make my <3 happy. Thank you Anne.
Great pictures and wonderful text! 🙂
I am very happy you enjoyed & cheers to you my friend.
Ahhh, you have shared the sacredness of birds here in the most beautiful way, Cindy.
I love and fully agree with your phrase, “the sacredness of birds.” ♡´･ᴗ･`♡
Beautiful photos, Cindy. I love birds, and I love Emily Dickinson’s poetry. 🙂
This is clearly why we both like each other so much ♡´･ᴗ･`♡
I’m so lucky to see these birds😊 Especially I love the puffin. I don’t know well about the differnce between puffin and etupirka however etupirka means beautiful beak as Ainu language.
Wow! I am fascinated. The puffin and etupirka are the same bird. I didn’t know about the Ainu language. Thank you for expanding my borders and vocabulary. See: “Name etymology
Etupirka is from the Ainu name for the Tufted puffin (Fratercula cirrhata). In the katakana alphabet used for the Ainu language, it would actually be rendered エト゚ピㇼカ, but the pronunciation エトピリカ is more common in everyday Japanese.” (https://wiki.telefang.net/Etupirka_(Natural)
Thank you so much too! Just as you say. And I also feel that’s just ≪Luck is not chance≫ by Emily Dickison because your work make me feel something deep. thx😊
Your comments make me feel the same. Thank you & be well.
These birdies are gorgeous! Our Midwest Robins are way fatter than this guy, but I don’t recall ever seeing a Junco here. Our Jays are more white and blue, and I’ve never managed to get this close to a red winged blackbird.
Awww, thanks so much Debbie. The red-wings are touchy aren’t they. I saw them once being fed, but didn’t have my camera. It was a rare opportunity which I missed.
This is a beautiful post, Cindy! Love the poem and the images you accompanied it with.
I love your kind comment. Thank you <3
Thank you Cindy, these are colorful and pretty birds. 🙂
I hope you are doing well my friend and happy you enjoyed the birdies ♡´･ᴗ･`♡
I adore Emily, her words, your photos, and you!
Visa versa 2UX ♡´･ᴗ･`♡ And any friend of Emily’s is a kindred soul of mine. Be well and thank you.
Deine Fotos werden immer noch schöner !
Ihre Freundlichkeit wird sehr geschätzt. Danke und Prost!
Prost 😉
What a wonderful poem punctuated with your glorious feathered friends, Cindy. I love those stellar jays, so chatty and brave!
Wonderful portraits of our sweet birdie friends. <3 Beautifully captured, Cindy!
What a beautiful pairing of words and images! *smiling*
Smiling back to you Liz & thank you ♡´･ᴗ･`♡
Gotta love puffins … and that Stellar Jay … Wow … they aren’t in my area.
Thank you Frank. This is one of the things I love most about traveling, seeing all the different and amazing birds…
What beautiful images to accent the words Cindy.
Grazie mille ♡´･ᴗ･`♡
🙂
Birds are the hope indeed. When they start to chirp the spring is coming.
Puffin is my favourite.
Thank you Alexander. It was the first time I have seen puffins. I hope to see more of them soon.
For some reason WP again do not recognize me as your follower. I am anonymous.
Alexander.
“A rose by any other name would surely smell as sweet…” I value your thoughts my friend so thank you for letting me know it was you.
Lovely!
Thank you Wendell & cheers to you!
Wonderful photos, paired with Emily’s verses… Perfect!
Thank you Bette. Emily was such a special soul <3
The Steller’s jay stands out for me. Its blue is something else.
I agree with you. They are just gorgeous creatures.
Amazing captures, Cindy!
Merci beaucoup mon ami <3
Gorgeous and you saw a Puffin! Amazing.
There was a small group of them. I was flabbergasted! <3
Stunning bird photography (as always), Cindy.
I’ve never seen a puffin up close before….thanks for sharing 🙂
You are very kind Vicki. I hope to get closer to puffins soon. They are such endearing creatures ♡´･ᴗ･`♡
A fine collection of my favourite birds, Cindy. I especially liked your outstanding portraits of the Stellar Jay.
Thank you Peter. They are such beauteous birds <3
Gorgeous words and pictures to match!
So kind & much appreciated <3
Gorgeous photos. The robins make me think spring is just around the corner.
Thank you! And yes, robins bring spring to human <3 <3
These bird photos are amazing! Such beautiful bird as blended in twith this wonderful p0em! Thanks Cindy
Awww, thank you Gary & be well my friend <3
What a beautiful collection – your North American puffins and robins look so different from the European versions!
I would love to see yours! I’ve been thinking about a trip to Wales. I have never been and this seems unacceptable…
liebe Cindy, wunderschön wieder, wünsche mal wieder eine gute Woche mit vielen schönen Momenten, Klaus
Du bist ein wunderbarer Freund. Gesundheit & Glück für Sie immer!
alles ist gut danke
♡´･ᴗ･`♡
so machen wir es
♡´･ᴗ･`♡
Good to see your birds again – especially the puffin in the water
Thank you Derrick. I was so excited to see these guys bobbing away in the ocean!
Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
Some lovely pictures of birds along with extracts of poems from Cindy Knoke.
You are such a lovely friend ♡´･ᴗ･`♡
Beautiful pictures 😍
Grazie mille Rexlin.
So much beautiful wildlife and scenery in Washington state…many times I feel like I should’ve stayed in Seattle, where I lived for a year, but I couldn’t take the miserable, rainy winter.
I hear you. Continuous rain can be depressing so I understand.
Gorgeous birds!! Absolutely stunning shots, Sue. Thanks for sharing, Cindy.
Thank you more for appreciating & cheers to you ♡´･ᴗ･`♡
Pingback: Smorgasbord Blogger Daily – Monday January 27th 2020 – #Writerlinks D.G. Kaye, #Funnies The Story Reading Ape, #Photography Cindy Knoke | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine
You make my day smile ♡´･ᴗ･`♡
Thank goodness for nature, friends, photographers, and poets to help us keep hope alive.
Amen Brad. Couldn’t agree more <3
Go team hope! <3
I am on your team ♡´･ᴗ･`♡
😍 🙏
Beautiful, thank you. xxx
♡´･ᴗ･`♡
Is that first picture with the seagulls in the Strait of Juan de Fuca?
Yes it is! Good eyes.
Great pics! Love stellar Jays. I am awaiting their return here.
They are wonderful aren’t they. So shy unless you are at a picnic ground! 😉
Isn’t it interesting how poetry is able to explain an idea, thought feeling that we see in your photos! Hugs!
Emily in particular seems to do this all the time for me. She speaks what I see and feel.
For the birds. 🙂 BEAUTIFUL shots. Well done, of course.
Thank you John & hope all is well.
Beautiful!! Wonderful captures of these birds!
Thanks my friend and hope all is well with you!
Stellers, juncos and robins were all busy outside my window today, along with several other species, but no puffins! 🙂 Nice photos as always, Cindy. –Curt
Laughing….the puffins do take things up a notch don’t they!
That they do, Cindy.
♡´･ᴗ･`♡
Wow Cindy that Steller’s Jay is beautiful. Thank you for always taking the time to visit me.
Visa versa 2UX2 ♡´･ᴗ･`♡ I love my blogging friends.
I thought that was Emily Dickinson. Those birds are so beautiful. My Mother loved bird-watching and there were several stellar jays that seemed to like our back yard. I love puffins. They have that patch of bright colour and the odd shape of the head which gives them a kind of unique air about them.
It sounds like you see a lot of puffins, which makes you very fortunate in my eyes. These were the first I have seen. I hope to remedy this soon. I always seem to just miss them. Your mother sounds like a kindred spirit ♡´･ᴗ･`♡
My mom loved birds of all kinds. Our house looked out over aboriginal land so there were slo many different species. Mom would look them up if she didn’t know and she recorded each sighting. I have her note books and bird books
Funny you should mention this. I leave shortly to NSW and Tasmania and I bought two Australian Bird Identification books.. I didn’t realize what heavy tomes they would be, but I should have, since Oz has so many birds. One of the books was used. In the back pages a person, I suspect a woman, from the hand writing, had written copious notes of every bird she had spotted and where she saw them. Lots of the place names I didn’t recognize, but she apparently was there for quite a long time and traveled extensively. It was an incredibly impressive list. I have packed this book to bring along and look forward to adding to her notes. And now you tell me your mother did the exact same thing. Jung would call this synchronicity. I am glad I am coming to Oz. Your mother’s books and notes sound precious and I am glad you have them.
Have a great trip.
♡´･ᴗ･`♡
When I lived in Vancouver it was on the coast and I would spend a lot of summer evenings on the beach. And 10 years ago we spent a summer on Vancouver Island cooking at a camp on the ocean. This is where I learned to love Puffins.
Vancouver Island is one of my most favorite places. I have never seen puffins there. I need to go back! ♡´･ᴗ･`♡
Your photography gives me wings and Emily Dickinson gives me roots.
My very first collection that won prize money was titled Roots and Wings
(WV Writers, 1992). The birds look alive and I expect them to take flight
at any given minute. Just beautiful!
Your kind comment makes my <3 smile. Thank you & cheers to you. You make me happy I posted.
Well, they were amazing, thanks.
Happy you enjoyed & hope their magic worked on you my friend ♡´･ᴗ･`♡
Deferably cheered me up! I fanketh you! ♥
You just cheered me up <3
♥
Beautiful!!
Grazie mille.
I’ve seen some of those fine feathered friends here. Not the Puffin – nor the Stellars Jay – though I think I do have some different Jays. I like how you paired the verse with the photos. 🙂
The puffins were quite a happy surprise to find out in the open ocean! Thank you Jules & cheers to you my friend.
Beautiful and inspiring. Your words are exasperating! Well wishes to you Cindy for this new decade! Cheers!💕
passe auf dich auf und erkälte dich nicht, Klaus
♡´･ᴗ･`♡
Awesome pics..👌
Thank you Swati & cheers to you <3
Thank you for these lovely photographs!
You are most welcome Charles & cheers my friend.
Cindy, gorgeous photos of birds. I love Emily Dickinson too. Hope springs eternal. Everywhere we gaze in nature, examples of hope can be observed. To continue the squirrel poems of late, I can relate that I caught a big, fat squirrel wrapped around our fancy bird feeder. I have now relocated it to the front porch hanging on a hook. I hope the birds find it as I thought “like a squirrel” to see if it has the smarts to figure out a route to eat more bird seed. Nature and these bird photos are soothing to the spirit. Thank you for quenching my thirst today. ox
Squirrels are very difficult to outfox! Your story brings a smile to my <3 Mary Ann so thank you too.
Cindy, thank you for the comment. Still trying to outsmart them at my end of the pond. The feeder now hangs from a hook on the front porch. “”__””
hmmmmm, I wonder who will win? Keep us posted and best of luckk! 😉
We both know who will win! “”__”” https://drniemczura.wordpress.com/2020/01/31/whats-out-your-window/
Exactly <3
Lovely photographs. those puffins – they get everywhere
They certainly do. They are buoyant little birdies.
you know ive been places they are supposed to be – but never seen them myself
Same with me. They migrate on tight schedules and I am always a day or two late!
or perhaps they stand very still and blend in with the background..someone once told me that puffins push the juniors off a cliff, to encourage them out into the world.
Wow! Quite a brutal introduction to the cruel world.
totally agree
One of my favorite poems of all time. Hope is my mantra word. Your photos are just beautiful, Cindy. They make my spirit soar. Thank you. ♥.
People who “get” Emily, “get” each other. Your comment makes me happy. Thank you.
=) I’m glad, Cindy! I wish you every happiness. *hugs* And I think you’re right. Emily’s poetry is so special to me. I hope you have a great week. ♥.
(｡♥‿♥｡)
Woww.. The best..
Much appreciated. Thank you.
Puffins! Definitely in the top 10 birds that never fail to make someone smile…
Exactly! Smiling back at you <3
It’s on my photo bucket list to get a picture of a puffin. They are neat birds.
I relate. It still in on mine to get a better one.
Very pretty.🙂
Grazie Mille.
Aren’t birds the carrier of hope with their gorgeous and diverse feathers? Thank you, Cindy!
They are indeed. Thank you Jennie <3
You’re welcome, Cindy. ❤️
<3
Beautiful pictures of the birdies and beautiful words. I hope to see one in my garden soon😸Pawkisses for a Happy Weekend🐾😽💞
Pawkisses and appreciation back to you!
Fabulous display of feathered lovelities, Cindy. <3 This Puffin and the Jay looks different to the ones I'm familiar with. 🙂
Happy you enjoyed &thank you. It is fascinating, isn’t it, how same species birds vary morphology geographically.
LOVE THEM ALL!!
Awww, so pleased you do & thank you <3
I loved this post, Cindy! Just look at that handsome jay looking at us! I’ve never seen such a beautiful image of that bird. And those wonderful shots of the puffin 🙂 🙂
Awwww, you are very kind Melissa & most appreciated <3
Very good avian captures.
Honored. Thank you my friend.
Love the poem and pics to go with it!
So appreciated! Thank you & cheers~
Those blue feathers on the Jay are remarkable and nature always provides the most wondrous experiences.
May I say that your new photo is very complimentary? Léa xx
Mother Nature rocks her color palette on the birdies and thanks for noticing the photo. I took in myself in a hotel bathroom….laughing. I think bathrooms make for the best people photos, seriously, the bright lighting is good. Cheers to you from Oz Lea and wonderful to hear from you <3
You have that right. Picasso, Van Gogh, and Dali pale in comparison. I do believe I am surrounded by some of her best work and it appears she went out of her way where you are as well. Gros bisous et calins mon amie. ❤
Soyez bien mon aimable ami. Hugs & Cheers! <3
Beautiful. Especially the puffin.
Have a great day.
Thanks my friend & cheers!
Cindy, are you still in Australia? It’s better to come back home.
Oh so thoughtful, prescient and kind of you Alexander. I am home at The Holler now, basically not leaving. I hope you are well my friend, and stay well. You have been such a joy for me to talk to. <3 <3
I’m well. Time is not good for traveling now. We’ll see what happen.
Exactly. Stay well my friend.
Thank you. I do whatever I can, the rest is in God’s hands.
I wish you to pass this terrible time with no losses.