Sudden rush of feathers
draughting the air above me
small flocks of careening birds
fly low over the meadow
chased by strong tail winds
a dozen at a time joining
the twisting, turning mass
flowing across the evening sky
out over the lake, back over the trees
a pulsing organism, feinting left and right
like black drops of ink swirled in water
and then, on signal, they descend
in chattering swarms into the reed beds
their shrill conversations fill the air—
a murmuration of starlings at day’s end.
Melissa Shaw-Smith
Writer
Melissa Shaw-Smith 
Wow! Amazing poem and the photographs incredible…that last one just blows my mind. What a show!
Thank you! Can’t take credit for the last photo, but if you click on the title underneath the starlings it’ll take you to a whole slew of gorgeous photos and videos of this amazing sight.
Thanks 🙂
Lovely – the rhythm of the poem seems to follow the starlings from the mass of twisting bodies to their decent into the reed beds.
Kind words, thank you, Karina.
Good job of capturing the phenomena with both words and camera, Melissa. Isn’t it fascinating watching them behave like some very large imaginary animal swirling across the sky. I always stop and watch in wonder. –Curt
A little magic show!
We have starlings here in Godzone … but I’ve never seen them flock. (Seen ’em on TV, though … fascinating~!)
Even a little spooky!
I love the descriptions of that flock of birds flying and flipping in the sky… beautiful poem. dear Melissa. Merry Christmas. Love and all my best wishes to you. Aquileana 🎄
Thank you so much, Aquileana. And best wishes for 2016!
The first time I realized that these were actually called murmurations I just grinned like a fool and said “I love the English language!” Wonderful poem!
Yes! Such a great word, and to stand under the flight path of such a murmuration is to fully comprehend it. All the best to you, Sunshine for a great new year.
Reblogged this on Ripple Poetry.
Pearl, you’re a sweetheart. Always appreciate your reading and passing along. Best wishes for the New Year. Melissa
Best wishes to you also and thanks for sharing your work.
Your work is inspiration, in particular the photographs.
Beautiful!
Thank you so much.