Defining Still

Defining Still

as patient and still

as the dark

shadows each cast

beneath the arc,

span and the reach

of outspread

sun bitterns wings ..

so perfectly

poised for the kill

and far more

patient, than any

would be

rooftop assassins ..

perched

up high, on some

invisible ledge

behind an invisible

screen ..

each posed with

their back to the sun

on a double

time killing spree day ..

 

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

Not a bird I am familiar with Neville, so had to look it up. A tropical wading bird, superb imagery here of this creature, perfectly still, poised for the kill, hunting for food. However there is darkness here, dark shadows cast of the wing span. Your poem has far more going on. I am reminded of a Detective friend, thirty years ago. He told me to keep my friends close and my enemies even closer. I have lived by that ever since. Love your poem. Have a great weekend in Bath.

Chris 💜

[Neville]

sound advice .. and so oft a necessity .. ta our Chris .. I'll let'cha know .. 💜

[Lorry]

Must look up Bitterns... please hold, your call is important to us..............................ah yes, im guessing its the third of this...

noun
1 in salt-works, the brine remaining after the salt is concreted.
2 A very bitter compound of quassia, cocculus indicus, licorice, tobacco, etc., used for adulterating beer. Also called bittering.
3 a European wading bird, of the family Ardeidæ and subfamily Botaurinæ; the Botaurus stellaris, a kind of heron.
...but if its not im now thinking "Nev's lost it!" 😃
Now that is an excellent definition of stillness. The only one I could come up with was spoiled when I realised id sat on the TV remote! 😃

[Neville]

You sir are a stable genius too & look as much as you will but that has nowt to do with horses or oil lamps .. 🐎🪔🧞‍♂️🐧💛😎👍xx

[Thomas W Case]

Quiet as a hunter’s breath, this one stalks the moment until the shadows start speaking.
There’s a hard, watchful patience here—the kind that knows the world can turn deadly in the blink of a wing. 🪶

[Neville]

You have a good eye Thomas & a huge heart kind sir ..