Foam meets stone and melts away, the gull gives a cry as she wheels overhead
Pickings are slim and it’s been a long day, she’s aching for her bed
She alights on a rock to bear witness to the vanishing of the light
An evening ritual that brings her comfort before she turns in for the night
She takes in the cascade of colours where the sky meets the swelling sea
And for moments she’s as vast as the ocean, as she allows herself to be
The flock gather themselves around her, preparing to take their rest
She tucks her head and drifts to dreams, knowing that she is blessed.
Thanks for joining me for Sunday rhyme time. It’s been a while since I wrote an animal poem, I’ve missed them. This one arrived in a few minutes from the line, ‘foam meets stone and melts away,’ which I’d written in my poetry journal ages ago after a trip to a rocky beach. I’m pleased the line brought forth a gull, as otherwise I never would’ve learned that gulls (along with many birds, dolphins, eared seals and manatees) can engage in unihemispheric sleep, where they sleep with only one half of their brain, allowing the other half to remain alert. This allows them to keep an eye out for predators and in the case of migrating birds, to rest whilst flying. For aquatic mammals they can surface to breathe while sleeping. Clever stuff!
True silence is the rest of the mind, and is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment
Love this little poem and adore that first line! And thanks for that fascinating info about how they can sleep with half their brain and stay awake to function with the other. Wish we could do that! I’ve been doing a bit of research about seagulls this week too: “Seagulls are expert fliers and able to ride stormy weather with what looks like total ease. They have mastered control of wind and thermals, sharp directional changes, climbs, dives and skirting over rough waves. As well as being gurus of flight they are very good at living in precarious places…The overarching energy of Seagull is determination.” I had been following some seagull tracks in the sand and contemplating what seagulls might have to teach me. Apparently I need to be determined. It’s a pretty laid-back life here in Spain at the mo so I’ll have to ponder where to apply determination…. I’m determined to have a G&T every evening at happy hour?🤣
Yay, more seagull knowledge! Thanks Melanie 😊 I love that you’ve been researching them too!
Thanks for sharing the lessons you’re learning from nature, do we all do this I wonder? I know it’s something I did instinctively for a long time before I ever dared write about it (seemed too much like magical thinking at one point), but the more I share and other people share, I’m beginning to wonder if it’s something many people do instinctively.
Enjoy that G&T with determination 🍹 😚 & if you fancy a good book to go with it I can recommend Sharon Blackie’s The Enchanted Life if you haven’t read it yet, it’s enchanting me at the moment.
Rae, I have that book on my list; moving it to the top! Thanks for the recommendation! Loving all things magic and enchanted, that title has been calling to me. Yay!
I think that our ancestors looked to nature long ago for help and guidance so perhaps that propensity is still in our dna. I don’t think everyone looks to nature but I think the proclivity to do so is growing much more popular. There is so much wisdom in nature! I can’t remember where it was but I was reading about a company whose model is to learn from nature how to deal with specific environmental problems. It was really brilliant!
Cheers my friend! 🍹🍹
It’s been calling to me a while as well but for some reason I was resisting, but I was hooked as soon as I opened it.
Yes it makes sense looking to nature is in our DNA, if it’s so then it’s encouraging that anyone can do it. That company’s model sounds very interesting.
Rae Cod’s Writing 
Beautiful post
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙏 Glad you enjoyed it😊
LikeLike
Love this little poem and adore that first line! And thanks for that fascinating info about how they can sleep with half their brain and stay awake to function with the other. Wish we could do that! I’ve been doing a bit of research about seagulls this week too: “Seagulls are expert fliers and able to ride stormy weather with what looks like total ease. They have mastered control of wind and thermals, sharp directional changes, climbs, dives and skirting over rough waves. As well as being gurus of flight they are very good at living in precarious places…The overarching energy of Seagull is determination.” I had been following some seagull tracks in the sand and contemplating what seagulls might have to teach me. Apparently I need to be determined. It’s a pretty laid-back life here in Spain at the mo so I’ll have to ponder where to apply determination…. I’m determined to have a G&T every evening at happy hour?🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay, more seagull knowledge! Thanks Melanie 😊 I love that you’ve been researching them too!
Thanks for sharing the lessons you’re learning from nature, do we all do this I wonder? I know it’s something I did instinctively for a long time before I ever dared write about it (seemed too much like magical thinking at one point), but the more I share and other people share, I’m beginning to wonder if it’s something many people do instinctively.
Enjoy that G&T with determination 🍹 😚 & if you fancy a good book to go with it I can recommend Sharon Blackie’s The Enchanted Life if you haven’t read it yet, it’s enchanting me at the moment.
LikeLike
Rae, I have that book on my list; moving it to the top! Thanks for the recommendation! Loving all things magic and enchanted, that title has been calling to me. Yay!
I think that our ancestors looked to nature long ago for help and guidance so perhaps that propensity is still in our dna. I don’t think everyone looks to nature but I think the proclivity to do so is growing much more popular. There is so much wisdom in nature! I can’t remember where it was but I was reading about a company whose model is to learn from nature how to deal with specific environmental problems. It was really brilliant!
Cheers my friend! 🍹🍹
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s been calling to me a while as well but for some reason I was resisting, but I was hooked as soon as I opened it.
Yes it makes sense looking to nature is in our DNA, if it’s so then it’s encouraging that anyone can do it. That company’s model sounds very interesting.
Cheers back at you 🍹😊 keep enjoying sunny Spain.
LikeLike
Beautiful poem – there is something special about writing about nature. Thank you for sharing!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you 😊 I totally agree, it strengthens our connection to something deeper, I think.
LikeLiked by 1 person