Wednesday, October 26, 2011

death of a bird and a review



There is a legend about a bird which sings only once in its life, more beautifully than any other creature on the face of the earth. From the moment it leaves its nest, it searches for a thorn tree, and does not rest until it has found one. Then, it impales its breast on the longest, sharpest thorn. But as it is dying, it rises above its own agony to out sing the Lark and the Nightingale. The Thorn Bird pays its life for that one song, and the whole world stills to listen, and God in his heaven smiles, as its best is brought only at the cost of great pain; driven to the thorn with no knowledge of the dying to come. But when we press the thorn to our breast, we know, we understand... and still, we do it.  


Colleen McCullough, The Thorn Birds


Last week, on my birthday, I heard the tell-tale thud, as this little fella crashed into the glass of the french doors, and fell to the rain-drenched cedar deck.  From inside, I watched, helpless, as he gasped his last few breaths.  At least, I thought, this beautiful creature deserves to be remembered with a photo, before he becomes part of earth's patina.


Speaking of patina, please check out this excellent review of my new poetry chapbook PATINA, published this summer by Finishing Line Press, by Poet, Critic, Blogger Jenne’ R. Andrews, whose work has appeared in a number of journals including, most recently The Adirondack Review; her collections include the small press book Reunion, Lynx House Press, The Dark Animal of Liberty, Leaping Mountain Press, and In Pursuit of the Family, Minnesota Writers’ Publishing House, edited by Robert Bly. She posts work in draft at La Parola Vivace in addition to submitting individual work and book-length collections to journals and presses. She has recently been writing “Rilke variations”—an exercise that has become a vital part of her daily writing practice.


Click here to purchase PATINA from Amazon. 

44 comments:

  1. ...brought only at the cost of great pane.

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  2. Beautiful little guy and such a sad ending.
    Wonderful review... congratulations!

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  3. Congratulations on your review.

    The bird image and the story of the thorn bird made me feel sad. Life can be so fleeting.
    Helen xx

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  4. The best in all of Creation, is bought with the greatest pain.

    It is how birds sing on a thorn
    It is how babies are born...

    Keep the home-fires burning at the Manor, Tess. Cold winter on the way. May you Peeps would like a trip to Naples, Florida?--grin!

    Think about that during middle of January through middle of march!

    PEACE!

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  5. A heartbreaking story. Congratulations on your stellar review! I will pop on over to read it.
    Catherine

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  6. Congratulations on your review, Tess. So sad about the little bird. If you haven't done so already, consider putting decals on your French doors or hanging streamers on them so the birds won't mistake them for open air they can fly through. Won't prevent all accidents but does reduce them.

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  7. How lovely of you Tess, both your tenderness for that sweet, small bird, little chip of life and will-- and to give me such a kudo! love, of course, Jenne' xxxxj

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  8. I watched such a little one gasp his last breath on Sunday. Miss Immie (my daughter's new man's little girl) and I were playing pirates in our pajamas when we heard the crash. She and I held hands and watched this lovely creature leave this earth.

    I spoke with my sister V. today. She told me that her daughter Kate found a dead bird on her patio just before her daughter Kate was to sit a very important exam. V. believes, like our native american people, that the gift of a dying animal is a gift of their life. They present themselves in their parting moments to take away the trouble and anxiety we are experiencing at that moment.

    The first little bird took away the ache in my heart for my daughter's fragile happiness with this new family she is making. The second, took with him Kate's anxiety about her upcoming exam.
    postscript...Kate passed with flying colours.

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  9. Like Thorn Bird, we each have a purpose--IMO--and when that purpose is fulfilled, Zap! Time to go!
    BUMP...BUMP!! (Keep bumping into you, too--but I don't mind--grin!)

    PEACE!

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  10. Jacqueline, I couldn't help but wonder why it happened on my birthday...I took it as a gift.

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  11. Steve, I hope my purpose isn't fulfilled any time soon...

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  12. I'm afraid we've had the same problems with our new plate glass windows. Poor things; just going about their business, and BANG.

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  13. There is a kind of beauty, even in the death of such a lovely creature.

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  14. The story of the bird is sad : but the image is beautiful. As far as the review is concerned - the book (which still has pride of place on my bookshelf - deserves nothing less.

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  15. I bet it was these guys!

    P.S Congrats on the stellar revue!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpXMkJmEFT0

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  16. aw - in my childhood home this happened quite often, always disturbing.

    cool review, congrats

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  17. I love that you see it as a birthday *gift*......Mother Universe tells us wonderful things in strange ways..........
    ;)

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  18. I have a lifetime of stories in which tragedy and triumph go hand in hand. Wow. Best not to dwell overlong on *that* this morning. For those who have not yet read it, this is a splendid review! I like that it points out the extent to which you aren't "just" an exceptional poet...you are also an enabler, in the best sense of the word, for others to find their creative voice, especially through your efforts at Magpie Tales. I join in the growing chorus of "Brava" being raised!

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  19. this is so sad. When we are not killing them, or destroying their homes, they come to us and kill themselves on our things. This was very sad. Congratulations on the review, you deserve it! I love my Patina.

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  20. That's a stunning photo! And a beautiful passage from The Thorn Birds. I loved that book.

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  21. Patina has replaced Wendy Cope's Making Cocoa for Kingsley Amis in my coat pocket when I go for one of my long walks through Manchester to shake off the black dog ... speaking of which, House Detective will be up on my blog Black Dogs tomorrow, with links to your excellent reviews, and of course, to Willow Manor ...

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  22. R.A.D., I am so very honored to think my PATINA has replaced your beloved coat pocket copy of Wendy Cope...

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  23. I like the message on the Amazon page for your book Tess:

    Customers viewing this page may be interested in these sponsored links:

    Specialist Wood Coatings Varnish Floor Finishes & French Polish

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  24. When I looked, Amazon says this under my book...

    Customers viewing this page may be interested in these sponsored links:

    Cool Tools Patina Gel, Patina Copper Sheets, Antiquing Gel for Metal

    Hmm...I think I like floor varnish better...

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  25. Are you not interested in cool tools Tess ...

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  26. Perhaps it's just as well you decided not to go with the original title for your book of Quick-Drying Cement ...

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  27. It's nice that the cool tools come with Patina gel...

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  28. This is such a thoughtful, lovely review from a very experienced writer.
    Praise indeed.
    See, I told you it was an excellent book.
    Happy fall.

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  29. I just saw, last evening, a place where one can buy white like snow white, stickers one peels off and sticks on glass to give oncoming birds a reference so they don't kill themselves flying into glass.

    I didn't keep the link. I suppose one could Google it.

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  30. I just saw, last evening, a place where one can buy white like snow white, stickers one peels off and sticks on glass to give oncoming birds a reference so they don't kill themselves flying into glass.

    I didn't keep the link. I suppose one could Google it.

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  31. Oh Tess, what a beautiful review! The review read like a poem itself...I would love to be able to express myself that wel1. Maybe I can't express myself as well but I have been enjoying my copy of Patina just as much:)

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  32. a little moment, beautifully captured
    x

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  33. Thanks everyone for your kind words...you mean so much to me...and thank you Jenne for such a lovely review of PATINA...

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  34. i love the way you memorialize (is that the right word) all manner of life events.

    the review was wonderful. well written and insightful. congrats.

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  35. what a wonderful review of your book, which I will order.

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  36. Wonderful review, Tess! Congratulations! I have really enjoyed Patina, and will return to it again and again.

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  37. there was a writer name o Tess
    one scribe acclaimed by press
    seemingly devoured by all
    witness a bird salute in free fall
    Patina perpetually impressed

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  38. tess
    this story is so moving to me.
    i want to know more.

    xx

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  39. ps
    you will not ever be forgotten because of your outstanding work.

    xxx

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  40. Renee, thank you, dear friend...

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  41. Wow, that really is a wonderful review, but really, in the end, not surprising at all and well deserved.
    '
    Happy belated Bday too, dear Willow....err, I mean, Tess! :)

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  42. Oh, I dread that ominous thud--pray pray pray that they are only stunned.
    Congratulations on the wonderful review, Tess!
    I've thoroughly enjoyed reading and re-reading your book; you have helped me begin to figure out how to write of my own ancestors. For that, as for so much, I thank you.

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)