Happy Poetry Friday! I’m following up on Christie Wyman’s call for bird poems–by featuring the Green Heron in poetry and art. Christie is hosting this weeks Poetry Friday Roundup at her blog Wondering and Wandering–thanks for the challenge and for hosting Christie! I’ve had the delightful opportunity to take in my feathered friend here while plein air painting in Chicago’s Caldwell pond. I took on the triolet form that Alan Wright has been featuring on his blog as I really like the succinctness of the structure, thanks Alan.
GREEN HERON
Iridescence permeates me
through my shy personality.
By a bank with many a tree
iridescence permeates me.
Nervous flicker–yes I’d agree,
appease me space to be carefree.
Iridescence permeates me
through my shy, personality.
© 2018 Michelle Kogan
In memory of one of my favorite singers, here’s Aretha Franklin singing a favorite of mine, Spanish Harlem–make sure to crank up the volume!
Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting, & Writing 
Michelle, this is lovely….that word iridescence repeated…really strong.
Lovely poem and your painting is gorgeous! You are one talented lady!
Such a contrast – iridescence and shyness. Lovely painting with words and brush, Michelle.
Yes–aren’t those interesting characteristics to have in one being. Thanks Kat!
I love your poem and choice of words, iridescence and permeates. That thought makes me imagine that even inside, this heron wears a green soul. I’ve seen them, but in Mexico, never here in Colorado, though they migrate through.
We have a green heron and a blue heron who live at our neighborhood pond, and our green heron is so much more flicker-y and shy than the blue! Nice job capturing that with your poetry and art.
Seems I’m not the only one to say this, but I love ‘Iridescence permeates me’ and the contrast with shyness.
Oh and I love Spanish Harlem. Playing it now and feeling a little bereft.
Thanks Sally. Yes—a great emptiness for Aretha but her voice fills and touches me in a powerful way.
Thanks for taking up my challenge, Michelle! I love that you chose to focus on a heron I don’t see in my neck of the woods. Great Blues are what I see most often. Love the “iridescence” flowing through your triolet, a form which I have not tried yet. RIP, Queen of Soul. She will be missed by so many!
Nervous flicker–yes I’d agree,
appease me space to be carefree
The entire poem is beautiful, but these lines are my favorite. Thanks for sharing this poem, and music by the Queen.
Thanks Kimberly! So glad we have Aretha’s soulful voice to keep her with us.
So glad Aretha Franklin shared her talent with the world.
Me too!!!
Iridescence is a great word. Thanks for reminded me of the triolet form. Love the choral resonance of this poem.
I love that gorgeous iridescence! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
I enjoy writing triolets, as well, and I know they’re not easy….so congrats on your achievement! As Ruth said, I love that iridescence!
Thanks Matt!
I’m a huge fan of herons and have been longing to see a green one. The great blue herons amaze me with their size and dignity. You chose the perfect structure for your beautiful poem. I read Alan’s post last week and was intrigued by the triolet as well. I love that you took up that challenge, as well as Christie’s, to create your heron poem. Your repeated lines are perfect!
Thanks Molly, I really enjoy the compactness of the form—I’ve written some before and will probably return to it again.
Beautiful! I saw my first green heron earlier this year while canoeing down our local river.
Iridescence is such a great word, and your poem sparkles through its repetition. Thanks for sharing!
As everyone has said the word iridescence is a great focal point in your poem. The repetition works well and your drawing is so full of summer life! Thanks for the Aretha song. What a great voice she had.
I like your repetition of the phrase “Iridescence permeates me”. That is a vibrant way to capture the truth of birds!