On Prey | Teen Ink

On Prey

September 5, 2011
By Thesilentraven PLATINUM, Mableton, Georgia
Thesilentraven PLATINUM, Mableton, Georgia
40 articles 2 photos 1632 comments

Favorite Quote:
"il piu nell' uno," (according to Emerson, an Italian expression for beauty)

"Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality" ~Emily Dickinson

"The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain"
~Kahlil Gibran


Wild is the frightened goose
Who flees from bounding feet
Glancing back
At the rifles’ dance
And stumbling through the air
Bite at life with sweaty beak
Just to have it—
Wrenched away!
By a gunshot from the hunters
Then smoke and feathers
And blood
A fading sound of thunderclap
Then a fall to dirt and dust

Merry are the feasting men
Who sup on roasted bird
Flesh on wooden table
A meal of victory!
But watch them walk in later days
The flapping forms
Of frightened souls
Which fate will come to fetch—
With a flash of lightning
Or is it
Gunshot—from the sky?

To squirm in nets of Judgment
With a sentence of vapor—and Truth
They’ll recall the clamor of sudden death—
How familiar the sound!
Then retire to giant ovens
And fall to the wretched plates
Of a party of demons and of gods
Who make a meal—of men!


The author's comments:
I encourage you to give it a good think. Not just the poem, I mean. Everything around you. The children playing in the yard, the elderly on wooden benches, the birds busy about their nests, etc. And if any thoughts of value come to mind, do tell me.

Similar Articles

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 28 comments.


leafy said...
on Apr. 25 2012 at 10:17 pm
leafy, City, Other
0 articles 0 photos 682 comments

Favorite Quote:
Gil: I would like you to read my novel and get your opinion. 
Ernest Hemingway: I hate it. 
Gil: You haven't even read it yet. 
Ernest Hemingway: If it's bad, I'll hate it. If it's good, then I'll be envious and hate it even more. You don't want the opinion of another writer. 

I must say, Feathery Bard, reading your poetry is like eating sorbet, as strange as that may sound. Its flavors are delicate but altogether delicious, and although I would like to devour it all at once, I know that to appreciate it fully, it would br best if I consumed them at a slower pace :)

This piece particularly enchanted me, though I can't exactly quite put my finger on it as to why.

I have always rather despised hunters, or in better words, the act of hunting. To paraphrase a quote from the eloquent John Green, I like to minimize the deaths I instigate in this world - one of the major reasons why I have chosen to become a vegetarian and have stuck with it.

Aderes47 GOLD said...
on Sep. 24 2011 at 5:58 pm
Aderes47 GOLD, Cambridge, Massachusetts
11 articles 0 photos 897 comments

Favorite Quote:
You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.
Henry Drummond

Aww, thanks. :)

on Sep. 22 2011 at 7:44 pm
Thesilentraven PLATINUM, Mableton, Georgia
40 articles 2 photos 1632 comments

Favorite Quote:
"il piu nell' uno," (according to Emerson, an Italian expression for beauty)

"Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality" ~Emily Dickinson

"The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain"
~Kahlil Gibran

Can you hear it?

Or are you even listening?


on Sep. 22 2011 at 7:42 pm
Thesilentraven PLATINUM, Mableton, Georgia
40 articles 2 photos 1632 comments

Favorite Quote:
"il piu nell' uno," (according to Emerson, an Italian expression for beauty)

"Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality" ~Emily Dickinson

"The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain"
~Kahlil Gibran

Some of the best couples don't seem to have anything in common at first, I think. So- good omen.

Aderes47 GOLD said...
on Sep. 20 2011 at 9:40 pm
Aderes47 GOLD, Cambridge, Massachusetts
11 articles 0 photos 897 comments

Favorite Quote:
You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.
Henry Drummond

It's crazy. If you met him without really getting to know me, you'd be like, What do you two have in common? I forgot to mention that he's Algerian like me and he's going to Algeria next month. :( :( :( :(

on Sep. 19 2011 at 8:01 pm
Thesilentraven PLATINUM, Mableton, Georgia
40 articles 2 photos 1632 comments

Favorite Quote:
"il piu nell' uno," (according to Emerson, an Italian expression for beauty)

"Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality" ~Emily Dickinson

"The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain"
~Kahlil Gibran

Ah, I feel rather foolish now.

And yet, if a poem is as worthy as you describe, it doesn't need to be published in a magazine to touch the world.


Aderes47 GOLD said...
on Sep. 18 2011 at 3:58 pm
Aderes47 GOLD, Cambridge, Massachusetts
11 articles 0 photos 897 comments

Favorite Quote:
You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.
Henry Drummond

It didn't get published in the magazine, I should have used the word uploaded. I really thought it had a chance to get in the magazine, I thought it was really unique. :)

on Sep. 18 2011 at 3:30 pm
Thesilentraven PLATINUM, Mableton, Georgia
40 articles 2 photos 1632 comments

Favorite Quote:
"il piu nell' uno," (according to Emerson, an Italian expression for beauty)

"Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality" ~Emily Dickinson

"The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain"
~Kahlil Gibran

Really?!?! Congratulations, Aderes! We all knew you had it in you. :)

How are you going to celebrate?


Aderes47 GOLD said...
on Sep. 17 2011 at 8:24 pm
Aderes47 GOLD, Cambridge, Massachusetts
11 articles 0 photos 897 comments

Favorite Quote:
You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.
Henry Drummond

Yeah, I always wanted to hang-glide or water-ski but I once went on a trapeze, I was really scared at the time but that was so much fun! It was really cool, this huge furniture store contained a trapeze. 

PS. My new poem got published! 


Aderes47 GOLD said...
on Sep. 17 2011 at 8:18 pm
Aderes47 GOLD, Cambridge, Massachusetts
11 articles 0 photos 897 comments

Favorite Quote:
You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.
Henry Drummond

LOL!

Totally. 

Hmmm, I feel like a lioness when I run! :)


on Sep. 15 2011 at 6:12 pm
Thesilentraven PLATINUM, Mableton, Georgia
40 articles 2 photos 1632 comments

Favorite Quote:
"il piu nell' uno," (according to Emerson, an Italian expression for beauty)

"Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality" ~Emily Dickinson

"The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain"
~Kahlil Gibran

And it makes it all the more pleasing when from their grumpy-shells they do emerge. Feeding time.

Ah, I see. Yellow, yellow, yellow. La la la. Ta dida da.


on Sep. 15 2011 at 4:39 pm
IamtheshyStargirl PLATINUM, Lothlorien, Utah
44 articles 16 photos 2206 comments

Favorite Quote:
Boredom instigates extreme creativity.
~Amoniel

"Bowing gratefully to all of my subjects, 'thank you. Thank you. The pleasure is mine." Nah, I'm just kidding. We're all kings together.'"
~Thesilentraven

Yes, actually. Geese are just grumpy. Doesn't mean they can't come out of their grumpy-shells every once in awhile and be friendly, though ;)

Preparing corn to be frozen for the winter, and putting together a gift of sunflowers, not anything you wouldn't know about, really. 


on Sep. 15 2011 at 3:50 pm
Thesilentraven PLATINUM, Mableton, Georgia
40 articles 2 photos 1632 comments

Favorite Quote:
"il piu nell' uno," (according to Emerson, an Italian expression for beauty)

"Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality" ~Emily Dickinson

"The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain"
~Kahlil Gibran

And what induced that yellow color of sunflowers and mountains of homegrown corn?

on Sep. 15 2011 at 3:50 pm
Thesilentraven PLATINUM, Mableton, Georgia
40 articles 2 photos 1632 comments

Favorite Quote:
"il piu nell' uno," (according to Emerson, an Italian expression for beauty)

"Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality" ~Emily Dickinson

"The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain"
~Kahlil Gibran

Maybe they're not mean, maybe they're only grumpy. Have you ever tried talking to them?

on Sep. 14 2011 at 7:47 pm
IamtheshyStargirl PLATINUM, Lothlorien, Utah
44 articles 16 photos 2206 comments

Favorite Quote:
Boredom instigates extreme creativity.
~Amoniel

"Bowing gratefully to all of my subjects, 'thank you. Thank you. The pleasure is mine." Nah, I'm just kidding. We're all kings together.'"
~Thesilentraven

Really? That is entirely good to hear! 

No, not really, though once, when I lay in the field being the earth, they sauntered up to me, and let me pet and feed them. It didn't last long, though. 

The girl is especially mean, that is why the name Narissa suits her. 

Yes, the color of sunflowers and mountains of homegrown corn :)


on Sep. 14 2011 at 6:09 pm
Thesilentraven PLATINUM, Mableton, Georgia
40 articles 2 photos 1632 comments

Favorite Quote:
"il piu nell' uno," (according to Emerson, an Italian expression for beauty)

"Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality" ~Emily Dickinson

"The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain"
~Kahlil Gibran

You always do seem to find the best descriptions for what I write. As if you know my poems better than I do. Perhaps you are chanelling the ideas for my poetry into my head, so that I may feel proud to have written something. :)

Really? How wonderful! Are they friendly?

A yellow brain is usually happy for me, and peaceful, like wandering through a meadow in the afternoon. Like an old, happy story than grandparents tell. Is it the same for you?


on Sep. 13 2011 at 10:16 pm
savetheplanet PLATINUM, Anaheim, California
45 articles 9 photos 564 comments

Favorite Quote:
It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

It's about a hunter who becomes the hunted.  And he the human, finally understands the animals.

on Sep. 13 2011 at 7:47 pm
IamtheshyStargirl PLATINUM, Lothlorien, Utah
44 articles 16 photos 2206 comments

Favorite Quote:
Boredom instigates extreme creativity.
~Amoniel

"Bowing gratefully to all of my subjects, 'thank you. Thank you. The pleasure is mine." Nah, I'm just kidding. We're all kings together.'"
~Thesilentraven

We have geese, did you know they can live to be fifty years old? 

They are a male and a female, named after Nathaniel and Narissa from 'Enchanted'. The names are well suited to them. 

My brain is yellow right now, to almost answer your question and challenge.


on Sep. 13 2011 at 7:44 pm
IamtheshyStargirl PLATINUM, Lothlorien, Utah
44 articles 16 photos 2206 comments

Favorite Quote:
Boredom instigates extreme creativity.
~Amoniel

"Bowing gratefully to all of my subjects, 'thank you. Thank you. The pleasure is mine." Nah, I'm just kidding. We're all kings together.'"
~Thesilentraven

"Bite at life with sweaty beak"

How entirely vivid, dear, it settles in the heart, a cone-shaped pool of itchy delight. 

 


on Sep. 13 2011 at 7:06 pm
Thesilentraven PLATINUM, Mableton, Georgia
40 articles 2 photos 1632 comments

Favorite Quote:
"il piu nell' uno," (according to Emerson, an Italian expression for beauty)

"Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality" ~Emily Dickinson

"The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain"
~Kahlil Gibran

I can certainly see how a swan could represent love.

Wouldn't you just love to fly?