It’s Poetry Friday and, even while I still play catch up from my recent overseas trop, I am today on the road again, in the north of Western Australia visiting Port Hedland to speak poetry, books and writing as part of Scribblers on the Road. How lucky am I?
In the meantime, I wanted to share a glimpse of this amazing anthology, a copy of which was waiting for me when I got home last week.
It’s an absolute feast of nature photography and poems, with each contributor asked to submit both an original photo, and an ekphrastic poem responding to that photo. When Carol Labuzzetta put out a call for submissions for this project I knew I just had to take part – and I was lucky enough to have all three of the poems I submitted included in the final production.
While I won’t share all three here (we want you to read the book!), here’s one of the photos I submitted (and which I have shared here previously):
taken when this feathered trio paid me a visit last year. And here is the poem that I finally wrote for the anthology, after some earlier attempts.
Noisy Guests
What’s that ruckus
in my yard?
A feathered trio
laughing hard.
What’s that rumpus
I can hear?
They’re carolling
that rain is near.
What’s that riot
on my fence?
Kookaburras
making sense!
(Sally Murphy, 2023)
Did you know that the collective noun for a group of kookaburras is a riot? Isn’t that an excellent choice?
Speaking of riots, I’m off to make some noise in a school today, but after that I’ll be checking out what my Poetry Friday friends have been up to this week. Tracey will be hosting the roundup.
Karen Edmisten says
Sally, that poem is pure delight (as is that pic!) Thanks for the smiles today!
Janice Scully says
Love those Kookaburras! So fun to revisit them in this book.
Laura Purdie Salas says
I remember this one, Sally–so much fun!
Rose Cappelli says
Your word choice is wonderful – ruckus, rumpus, riot! And kookaburras is such a fun word to say out loud. Thanks, Sally!
Alan j Wright says
Celebrating our unique native birds is always a delight to encounter, Sally. The collective noun for kookaburras is so entirely apt. I found myself writing about them this week and how they used to gather on the family clothesline when I was a child and wreak havoc with the freshly hung washing. It is indeed a pleasure to be part of Picture Perfect Poetry. Carol’s vision was a most worthy project in which to participate. Love your use of ruckus, rumpus and riot in the poem.
Ramona says
The photo is incredible, but your poem is over the top! And now all of us know about a riot of kookaburras. Love the questions and response in your poem and the rhyme is perfect!
jama says
Such a delightful poem. Congrats on being included in Carol’s new anthology!
Tracey Kiff-Judson says
Sally, I love that poem! I did not know that a group of kookaburras is called a riot, and now I love your poem even more! : )