.
The tree turns into bone
while its leaves
turn into feathers
in the alabaster light
just before the sun goes down.
.
Ninety feet up
a young eagle leaps
around his nest
of sticks and straw
flapping his wings
like wide miracles
.
until the sun finally sets
and they fold again
hugging his wild sides –
every bone and feather
neatly back in place.
.
.
© 2021 Betty Hayes Albright
.
Inspired by watching the Redding, California eagle cam. I highly recommend! The three eaglets will fledge in 2-3 weeks.
Sorry for my absence here… hoping to eventually catch up with everyone.
Also hope you’re all well — I’ve missed you all. ❤
.
Seasonings 
A fine, vivid, and well-structured, piece, Betty!✨
(Missed you, too!)
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Thanks very much, Ken. It’s good to hear from you!
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A fine portrait Betty…hope all is well with you and yours.
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Thank you, Charlie. I hope the same for you. (We’re hanging in there…)
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… nature is incomparable. We could read every book ever written, and still know nothing compared to her glory! Hope you are well 🌹🙏🏻
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I completely agree with you about nature, Peter. So very true. 🦅💚🙏
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That’s amazing Betty, absolutely beautiful. I can see him on my mind’s eye, I shall have to visit the eagle cam! I am so pleased to see you here I do hope you are feeling better.💜💜💜
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Thanks very much, Willow – it’s always so good to hear from you! Let me know if/when you visit the eagle cam.
I’m hoping to catch up with you soon. How have you been? 💗
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Hi , take care I often think of you 💜
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I have visited the site and I am amazed as always.
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Another great poem Betty –and yes, you were missed!
I wll go find the Eagle cam…..
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Thanks, Kim! I appreciate that. Hope you do check out the eagles. It’ll be amazing to see them fly for the first time.
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Good to see your poetry. Be well ♡
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Thanks, Audrey! Hope things are going well with you. I’ll try to catch up with your blog soon.
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Good to see you here, Betty, and your poem is lovely. I will tell you I have a new man in my life and am living in Winlock. A major change for me long overdue. Hope you are well. Take good care.
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Renee, I’m so happy to hear your news! Winlock is just 30 minutes away from me – (my husband has lots of relatives in the area). I’d love to hear more.
Will try to catch up with your blog soon.
You take good care also.
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Thank you, Betty. Never thought I would go online to meet someone…but life has been equally strange as you know. Take good care.
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Life can be strange in a good way sometimes. Makes me smile! 🙂 I’m really happy for you, Renee.
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Thank you Betty. I am getting ready to go with him to Wyoming as he still has some things to get that he left before his wife passed. A big journey for me as I’ve really never left the West Coast.
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flapping his wings
like wide miracles
–what a wonderful image! And good to see you. (K)
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Thank you so much, Kerfe!
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It’s always good to see a new poem, Betty. I like this too. The first stanza is especially strong.
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Thanks, Tom! It took a nest full of eagles to finally break through my writer’s block.
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Lovely poem and visual, Betty. So happy to see you back! Sending hugs, my friend. ❤️❤️😍
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Thanks, and hugs back to you, Lauren. 💗💕💓
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I have watched eagle cams before. Fun stuff.
I have missed your words!
Beautifully penned. ❤️
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Thank you, Bela! Glad you’ve had the eagle cam experience. I’m afraid it’s a little bit addictive. 😍
It’s good to hear from you! 💕
I’m hoping to catch up on blog reading soon.
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I love ‘Wild Sides’, Betty. The young eagle in a nest, flexing his wings by twilight – what a gorgeous image! And right up my street too, as I’m a keen bird-watcher and member of the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds).
No eagles here on Halkyn Mountain (N.E. Wales), unfortunately. Many buzzards circling aloft though, ready to swoop at the slightest twitch of a whisker below.
Best always – take care,
Paul
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Paul, I’m so happy you like this one! Glad to know you’re a “birder”, as we call them, and that you belong to such an important organization. My mom and aunt were also avid birders and my son is too. (He’s also a talented bird photographer.)
And yes, the eagle cam I’ve been watching is fascinating. Three eaglets, thriving and just about ready to fledge in 2 weeks.
I’m sorry to hear you don’t have eagles in Wales, but I can imagine you have many other spectacular species to make up for that.
Best always, back to you,
Betty
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You brought the vision to life with your poem. I really love these words, “hugging his wild sides –”
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Thanks very much, Ali! It’s so good to hear from you.
I’ve been out of the loop again here on WP, but I shall try very hard to catch up with you and others.
Hope all is well with you and yours.
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No worries. Glad to hear you are well.
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I see I have been following you but I am discovering you tonight. Three or four poems I am identifying with.
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Thank you so much for reading and commenting! I’ve just followed your site and will be back to read more. (Though forgive me, I’m not very active on WP lately…) Your poetry is beautiful!
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Thank you Betty. I try to participate in the blogworld as much as I can. The connection and comments from other poets is so……….so? Enriching?
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So very true, Dan. (I’m hoping to become active here once again in the near future. Am missing those interactions!)
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So inspiring one! waiting for more!
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Thank you, Zakia! I appreciate your comment very much.
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It was pleasure reading, 😊
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I many like your beautiful blog. A pleasure to come stroll on your pages. A great discovery and a very interesting blog. I will come back to visit you. Do not hesitate to visit my universe. See you soon.
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Thank you very much, Angelilie!
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