Semipalmated sandpiper WIP, © 2018 Michelle Kogan
Happy Poetry Friday! I’ve been back and forth to our beach this last week, watching these wonderful small semipalmated sandpipers as they migrate through the Chicago area enroute to their winter home in south America. They are called semipalmated for they have a very slight webbed foot–that you could maybe see if they would just slow down for a second–they move pretty fast. They are after a delicious meal that graces our sands which I name in my poem.
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER
Semipalmated pipers
beaks peck-pecking in sand,
Your nonstop moving motion
foraging your quotient,
Biofilm from our beaches,
yum–nutrient filled slime,
Short Chicago stopover
refueled–now away…
© 2018 Michelle Kogan
Catch the Poetry Friday Roundup at Amy Ludwig VanDerwater’s blog, The Poem Farm. Thanks for hosting Amy, I’m looking forward to what you will be sharing with all of us this week!
Sending my thoughts out to all those who have had to leave there homes, and those in any kind of harms way of Hurricane Florence, be safe.
Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting, & Writing 
Ah, that ‘refueling’ makes me want to go there, too. Lovely capture in both the poem & the video!
Thanks Linda, they were a joy to watch!
hmmmmm biofilm slime. I must admit that does not sound tasty to me. But, I’m oh so glad it does to these fast little birds. They are so sweet. I love their little semi-palmated movements in your video. And, the sound of that water……ahhhhhh. Music to my ears after a long day yesterday (back-to-school night) and up early this morning. Beautiful painting as always! You capture the details well in watercolor which I imagine takes great practice!
The waves and sounds were wonderful, I was surprised they didn’t get washed away in them–but then they were determined to secure their meal.
I like the unexpected near-rhyme of “motion” and “quotient.” Watching migrating birds is awesome! Such a treat.
Thanks Tabatha–they were definitely a treat! I was back again on Friday but alas I think they’ve taken off already.
Love watching those sandpipers scurry around. Beautiful art and poem, Michelle — how lucky to see them enroute to S America. 🙂
Thanks Jama-yes very fortunate, I’ve never seen them here before this year–must have caught a bit of magic this year…
Oh, what a refreshing little visit with these wee wonders over here, Michelle! And I didn’t know about their slimy meals… thanks for the art and clever words and the fun facts. :0)
Thanks Robyn, I’m sure I’ll revisit them again in art or poetry.
Our wetlands are so important. “Yum–nutrient filled slime” made me smile.
I enjoyed seeing and watching their movement even more after learning what they were foraging for. 😌
I’m writing about the desert right now, so seeing wetlands is a welcome relief. 🙂
This is so wonderful! Both the picture and poem.
Thanks Shelly, I appreciate your stopping by!
My pleasure, Michelle!
Those migrating birds are so fascinating–how their paths provide just the right food at just the right time for their arrival. I’ve been gazing upward to catch sight of the sandhill cranes that will be heading south.
I had the opportunity to see some of the sandhill cranes in Indiana one season as they were preparing for their migration too–makes one feel a bit more connected.
I love how your poem’s tone matches the personality of these lively little foragers. Down to business–badabing–pass the slime– badaboom–refueled–now away… 🙂
Thanks Michelle, “badabooms” a great way to describe their activity!
The name of this bird is a poem in itself! Your painting is delightful as is your poem (that last line!) I imagine that your art must refuel your writing. I keep trying to learn to express myself with line…you inspire. x
Semipalmated sandpiper–it has a wonderful sound. Yes I think the art and writing both feed off of each other, thanks Amy!