Murmuration
Starlings take flight
it is dusk
a mesmerizing dance
begins
a thousand or more strong
inkblots against an
orange sky
weaving intricate patterns
in the air
they move as one
their movements
reminiscent of a great wave
crashing against the shore
they twist, turn with a
precision that defies logic
as if guided by an invisible hand
with an unspoken language
united by invIsible threads
binding them together
moving as one
a symphony of feathers, beaks
ebbing and flowing
wings shimmer in the gloaming
creating other-worldly shapes
a celestial ballet in the sky
as night settles in
they disperse in
the softened edges
leaving me in awe of
the beauty and wonder
of the divine in
nature’s grand dance
Author’s Note
The starlings gather every evening not far from where we live. It’s hard to miss their aerial ballet. I know some consider them nuisance birds, but I think they’re beautiful, eccentric beings.
Credits for photos used in the video I created (with the help of Canva) to introduce this post on Instagram and other social media, go to Albert Beukhof and Menno Schaefer.
Upcoming…
March’s writing prompt:
One Hundred-Word Wonders, 20 March 2024
For those who want to get a head start, themes are WRATH and JOY, and the three prompt words are RAT, HONEY, CANDLE. Write in exactly 100 words, a story, poem, or creative non-fiction in any genre, using ONE theme only. Use the three prompt words only once, in any order, and exactly as is. Pieces should be exactly 100 words, no more or less. The 100-word count does not include the title. Hold your piece until the 20th!
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