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.
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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.