Wild Bird!: My Bird

By Doris Teresa Wight

Over 130 poems, paired with amazing photos, that explore the behavior and nature of wild birds - OUR birds. The lyrics range from playful to thought-provoking and provide a unique and intimate look at the birds that surround us. The photographer, through close observation and attention to detail, perfectly captures the beauty and character of the birds. The book is divided into eight chapters: Human Observer, Beauty, Romance, Nests/Eggs, Behavior, Wings, Feeding, and In All Seasons.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Doris Teresa Wight
• Release date: May 15, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301064885

Doris Teresa Wight

Doris Teresa Wight has written an impressive collection of literary works. Over 400 of her poems have been printed in over 150 publications, and she has written novels, short stories, essays, children’s books, and scholarly works. She earned a PhD in comparative literature (with emphasis on experimental poetry) and then taught creative writing and other English courses at the college level. Along with her English professor husband she raised three sons and also conducted classes in ballet and modern dance (earlier she had studied dance professionally in New York, Chicago, Madison, and California).

Book preview

Wild Bird!

—My Bird

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Doris Teresa Wight

Photography by Bob Leggett

Smashwords Edition 1.0

Copyright

© 2013 Doris Teresa Wight

© 2013 Bob Leggett

All rights reserved.

No part of this ebook may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without prior written permission.

Smashwords Edition 1.0

Published 2013 Bird-in-Hand Publishing

Carol E. Bochler, Agent [phone]

Preface

The Word Is a Bird,

for it survives by flight through air,

for it wings forth its meaning,

for it is formed from heart and brain—

set forth it comes not back the same—

released, it comes not back again.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Preface

Chapter 1: The Human Observer

Downy Woodpecker

Wild Bird!—My Bird

Eagle’s Eye View

Auk Talk

Road Runner

Bald Eagle As Symbol

Two Crows and a Weeping Willow

Dislike You, Shrike?

Half-past Autumn: Jays and Crows

Bird of Desolate Heights: Solitaire

Blue Jay Pest

Red-winged Blackbirds Flocking

Our Need for Puffins

Death Tryst

The Birds of Christmas Night

Chapter 2: Beauty

Beauty on the Move

The Perfect in Profile

Quick Sketch: Partridge

Flamingo’s Revenge

Hunting Lightshine: Indigo Bunting

Mockingbird

Hypnotic Stability

A Bird for All Seasons: Cardinal

What Good Luck, Wood Duck

Never Look a Peacock in the Eye

January Cherry, Chickadee

Behind, Silver Sound? Thrush

Riches out my Window: Goldfinch

Grackle’s Complaint

Snowy Egret

Hypocrite: Barn Owl

Chapter 3: Romance

How Sir Tanager Manages Her

Sky Tryst of Golden Eagles

Love Song, Cardinal

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Displays His Love

Pet Parakeet

Purple Finch’s Love Song

Bluebird’s Love Song

Peacock and Peahen

Heaven Fragments: Bluebirds

The Hut Love Builds: The Bower Bird

Two Is One: Wrentits

Common Egret

Courting Time: Mallards

Blue-footed Booby in Love

Caged Wild Bird: Canary

Not Her Type, This Peacock Either?

Chapter 4: Nests, Eggs

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Cactus Wren

Eider Eggs

Cliff Nests of Gulls

Who Taps on the Bark: Woodpecker

Renovated Robin’s Nest

Two Mothers: Cowbird and Warbler

Robin Arrives

Cradle Swaying: Oriole

The Establishment at Its Best: King Penguin

Oilbird Birthing

Instant Burrow: Grouse

Purple Martin’s Home

Verdins

In Rafters: Barn Swallows

Chapter 5: Behavior

Stick Trick: American Bittern

A Hum Is a Bird Is a Hum

Field Drama: Killdeer

Wren and Eagle (a retold tale)

Bob-whites Damply Born

Deep Commandments

Purple Gallinule Passes

Whip-poor-will’s World

Confessions of a Kiwi

Down Floats Upward, Goldfinch

Ornithic Snob

Wood Thrush at Twilight

The Militant: Prothonotary Warbler

She’s No Lady: Cassowary

On Penguin Island

Know Thyself (Sir Percival Penguin’s Plight)

Chapter 6: Wings

Joy’s Journey: Bobolinks in Spring

Follow the Yukon —Ducks, Geese, Swans, Cranes

Wait, Man-o-war…

Crow Boat

Hawk-Watch

Gazing up at Canada Geese

We of a Feather: Canada Geese

The Wandering Albatross

We Who Seek Day: