POETRY FRIDAY: Wild Geese

 

 

I often find it difficult to capture an image/idea that I have in my mind in words. Autumn is the time of year when I hear the honking of geese that are heading south for winter. I have tried over the years to write a poem about migrating geese—but I have never been really satisfied with the results. Here are two versions of a “wild geese” poem that I wrote. The first was written several years ago; the second was written earlier this year.

 

One Poem Two Ways

 

WILD GEESE #1

 

So long…farewell. We’re on our way.

We must depart. We can’t delay

Our journey to a warmer clime.

Mother Nature warned: “It’s time!”

We’re heading south before the snow…

And winter winds begin to blow.

We leave you with our parting call—

Honk! Honk! Honk!

That’s the sound of fall.

 

WILD GEESE #2

 

So long…farewell. We’re on our way.

We must depart. We can’t delay

Our journey to a warmer clime.

Mother Nature warned, “It’s time!”

Days grow shorter. Trees grow bare.

Pumpkins fatten. Frost nips the air.

We know the signs. It’s time to go

Before the sky fills up with snow.

But we’ll return again next year

When we can sense that spring is near.

We leave you with our parting call—

Honk! Honk! Honk! That’s the sound of fall.

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Here is one of my favorite fall poems:

 

Something Told the Wild Geese

by Rachel Field, 1894-1942

 

Something told the wild geese
It was time to go,
Though the fields lay golden
Something whispered, "snow."

Leaves were green and stirring,
Berries, luster-glossed,
But beneath warm feathers
Something cautioned, "frost."

 

Click here to read the rest of the poem.

 

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Cari Best wrote a touching picture book about a wounded goose that landed in her backyard. It is based on her own experience. A photograph of the one-footed goose is included on the title page. The book was beautifully illustrated by the late Holly Meade.

 

 

From the title page:

“Goose’s story is true. She came on a Sunday. We could only guess about how she’d hurt her foot…Whatever it was, the goose with one foot became our spring and then our summer that year. Who would have thought she’d become our inspiration for all times, too.”

Booklist gave Goose’s Story a starred review. Here is an excerpt from that review:

“Best's simple prose is rhythmic and beautiful, more poetic than much of the so-called free verse in many children's books; and Meade's clear, cut-paper collages show the drama through the child's eyes--the clamor of the flock against the New England landscape through the seasons; the honking and jumping for the sky; and one goose left behind, wild and beautiful, hurt, and strong.”

Unfortunately, the book is now out of print—but you may be able to find it in your public or school library…or a used copy from an online bookseller

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A Family Movie about Migrating Geese

My five-year-old granddaughter Julia likes Fly Away Home, a 1996 movie starring Jeff Daniels and Anna Paquin. Julia and I have watched the movie together a few times.

NOTE: (Fly Away Home won the 1997 Broadcast Film Critics Association Critics Choice Award as the Best Family Film, the 1997 Christopher Award (for family films), 1997 Young Artist Award in the category of Best Family Feature – Drama, and the 1997 Genesis Award for Feature Films.)

Fly Away Home movie trailer:

https://youtu.be/FCjlubLJcxk

 Mary Chapin Carpenter—10,000 Miles

https://youtu.be/43Tz3pVb9Dg

Something Told the Wild Geese (Ann Arbor Youth Chorale)

https://youtu.be/Ae1XLYUK21Q

Mary Oliver reading her poem Wild Geese

https://youtu.be/lv_4xmh_WtE

 

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Karen Edmisten has the Poetry Friday Roundup this week.