Poems on the Enchanting World of Birds


Book Description

Beyond the ornithological exploration, the anthology delves into the symbolic and cultural dimensions of birds. The poets unravel the myths, folklore, and metaphors associated with different bird species, infusing the verses with layers of meaning. Birds become messengers, symbols of freedom, and reflections of the human spirit. The anthology becomes a repository of avian lore, enriching the reading experience with cultural resonance. The language used in these poems is as diverse as the plumage of the birds they describe. The poets employ a range of literary techniques, from vivid descriptions to rhythmic cadences, creating a mosaic of linguistic beauty. The result is a collection that not only celebrates the subject matter but also showcases the versatility of poetic expression.




Bright Wings


Book Description

In this beautiful collection of poems and paintings, Billy Collins, former U.S. poet laureate, joins with David Allen Sibley, America's foremost bird illustrator, to celebrate the winged creatures that have inspired so many poets to sing for centuries. From Catullus and Chaucer to Robert Browning and James Wright, poets have long treated birds as powerful metaphors for beauty, escape, transcendence, and divine expression. Here, in this substantial anthology, more than one hundred contemporary and classic poems are paired with close to sixty original, ornithologically precise illustrations. Part poetry collection, part field guide, part art book, Bright Wings presents verbal and visual interpretations of the natural world and reminds us of our intimate connection to the "bright wings" around us. Each in their own way, these poems and pictures honor the enchanting creatures that have been, and continue to be, longtime collaborators with the poet's and painter's art. Poet and bird pairings include: Wallace Stevens and the Blackbird; Emily Dickinson and the Robin; Marianne Moore and the Frigate Pelican; Thomas Hardy and the Goldfinch; Sylvia Plath and the Pheasant; John Updike and the Seagull; Walt Whitman and the Eagle; Billy Collins and the Sparrow.




Beastly Verse


Book Description

"This is an anthology of 16 animal poems for children, illustrated by the graphic artist JooHee Yoon. The authors range from Lewis Carroll to D.H. Lawrence to Anonymous."--Publisher information.




Fly with Me


Book Description

"Birds and their behavior through the seasons and relationship to man."--




Why Peacocks?


Book Description

Until Flynn’s neighbor in North Carolina offered him one, he had never considered whether he wanted a peacock. His family became the owners of not one but three charming yet fickle birds: Carl, Ethel, and Mr. Pickle. Here he chronicles their first year as peacock owners, from struggling to build a pen to assisting the local bird doctor in surgery to triumphantly watching a peahen lay her first egg. He also examines the history of peacocks, from their appearance in the Garden of Eden. And Flynn travels across the globe to learn more about the birds firsthand. His book offers surprising lessons about love, grief, fatherhood, and family. -- adapted from jacket.




Some Say the Lark


Book Description

"Some Say the Lark is a piercing meditation, rooted in loss and longing, and manifest in dazzling leaps of the imagination—the familiar world rendered strange." —Natasha Trethewey Chang’s poems narrate grief and loss, and intertwines them with hope for a fresh start in the midst of new beginnings. With topics such as frustration with our social and natural world, these poems openly question the self and place and how private experiences like motherhood and sorrow necessitate a deeper engagement with public life and history. From "The Winter's Wife": I want wild roots to prosper an invention of blooms, each unknown to every wise gardener. If I could be a color. If I could be a question of tender regard. I know crabgrass and thistle. I know one algorithm: it has nothing to do with repetition or rhythm. It is the route from number to number (less to more, more to less), a map drawn by proof not faith. Unlike twilight, I do not conclude with darkness. I conclude. Jennifer Chang is the author of The History of Anonymity, which was a finalist for the Glasgow/Shenandoah Prize for Emerging Writers and listed by Hyphen Magazine as a Top Five Book of Poetry for 2008. Her poems have appeared in American Poetry Review, Best American Poetry 2012, The Nation, Poetry, A Public Space, and elsewhere. She is an assistant professor of English and Creative Writing at George Washington University and lives in Washington, DC with her family.




Poetry for Young Children - Birds and Beasts


Book Description

Poetry for Young Children - Birds and Beasts, is a lavish and lively celebration of the richness and wonder of the animal kingdom and a beautiful introduction to this genre of literature. More than twenty splendid poems are brought to a new generation of readers including work by Willam Shakespears, Willam Blake, Robert Louis Stevenson, D H Lawrence, Emily Dickinsons, Robert Frost, Sarojni Naidu and many more.




The Thrilling World of Birdwatching


Book Description

Birdwatching is a celebration of diversity—of species, habitats, and the community of enthusiasts that spans the globe. Within these pages, you will encounter a rich tapestry of information, anecdotes, and insights, reflecting the vast array of birds and the passionate individuals who dedicate their time to observing and understanding them. Birdwatching knows no boundaries, and neither does this guide. Whether you're interested in the acrobatic displays of hummingbirds, the majestic flights of raptors, or the delicate charm of songbirds, there's a place for you in these chapters. As we celebrate the diversity of birds, we also celebrate the diversity of birdwatchers—from the casual observer to the dedicated conservationist, each playing a vital role in the collective story of birdwatching.




In the Volcano's Mouth


Book Description

Winner of the 2015 Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize Miriam Bird Greenberg's stunning first collection, which roves across a lush, haunting rural America both real and imagined, observed from railyards and roadsides, evokes the world of myth ("I'd spent my childhood / in a house made of bees; on hot days honey // dripped through cracks in the ceiling," she writes). Yet these capacious, exquisitely tensioned poems are rooted in Greenberg's experiences hitchhiking and hopping freight trains across North America, or draw from her informal interviews with contemporary nomads, hobos, and others living on society's edges. Beneath their surface runs a current of violence, whether at the hands of fate or men: she writes "Everyone knows // what happens to women // who hitchhike, constantly // trying a door to the other world made of lake / bottom or low forest, abandoned house // even wild animals / have rejected." The result is a queering of On the Road, a feminist Frank Stanford at once vulnerable and canny. Richly textured, In the Volcano's Mouth is an extraordinary portrait of life on the enchanted margins.




The Lost Words


Book Description

The Lost Words by composer James Burton takes its inspiration and text from the award-winning 'cultural phenomenon' and book of the same name by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris: a book that was, in turn, a creative response to the removal of everyday nature words like acorn, newt and otter from a new edition of a widely used children's dictionary. Both the book and Burton's 32-minute work, which is written in 12 short movements for upper-voice choir in up to 3 voice parts (with either orchestral or piano accompaniment), celebrates each lost word with a beautiful poem or 'spell', magically brought to life in Burton's music. At its heart, the work delivers a powerful message about the need to close the gap between childhood and the natural world. Burton's piece was co-commissioned by the Hallé Concerts Society for the Hallé Children's Choir and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The piano accompaniment version was premiered at the Tanglewood Festival in 2019 by the Boston Symphony Children's Choir, of which Burton is founder and director. The Hallé Children's Choir will premiere the orchestral version of the full work in Manchester, UK, post-pandemic. Vocal Score Co-commission by Boston Symphony and Hallé Concerts Society for their respective Children's Choirs. Two versions - with orchestral or with piano accompaniment. The vocal score is the same for both versions. James Burton is a composer but also a conductor. He is conductor of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and choral director of the Boston Symphony. The book The Lost Words, exquisitely designed, has won multiple awards and is an international best-seller. The vocal score includes Jackie Morris's beautiful imagery in its cover design.