peeking through the clouds
September moon unveiling
early morning charms
September moon unveiling
early morning charms
moon sets in the west
quickly hiding her bright face
sun rises to see her
quickly hiding her bright face
sun rises to see her
setting moon shines
among the morning clouds -
blackbirds and ravens call
among the morning clouds -
blackbirds and ravens call
People have read me write often about our blackbirds which are called "merli" in Italy. The male of this species is black with a bright yellow beak and in the spring and sometimes in the autumn they sing their mating songs for their drabber ladies dressed in brown feathers. They are associated with a special stamina for survival ... in fact the coldest days of the year, in February, are called the "days of the blackbirds". They aren't migratory birds and their first songs sometimes begin in that period of the year. Throughout the year their song disappears and they kind of cluck or chitter like squirrels, as one did this morning whilst the moon was setting and the sun was rising.
The raven or the crow is a bigger bird and doesn't sing at all ... they caw and have an unpleasant voice. They often fly, at least here, in a large group. They are associated with death especially death by combat. They are scavengers. You can often find them around the city dump or where an animal has died.
I just thought I'd explain the difference between the two birds as it seems that, especially among the North American readers, they mistake the blackbird for the crow.
I like your haiku about the setting moon juxtaposed against the rising of the sun.Beautiful images.
ReplyDeleteThanks .. glad you enjoyed ... the photo was taken at moon set and the first rays of morning were beginning to show.
DeleteHooray --- a Beatles song! ;)
ReplyDeleteLoved the background information almost as much as the haiku series - we have so many red winged blackbirds in the states but they're definitely a totally different critter than the crow and the raven. Interestingly, though, the best place to find them in my area is the Gettysburg battlefield. o.O
The blackbirds and ravens calling to the setting moon -- a very striking image/ sound. :)
Yeah, yeah, yeah .. one of my favorive Beatles songs ... and one of the reasons I put up the background infor was because I keep seeing people writing about blackbirds as though they are crows and I myself didn't know the difference when the song came out (she say blushing). It does make for a strange morning concert ... the crows are noisier in this season and the blackbirds start chattering as soon as the sun starts coming up (like this morning).
DeleteLove the blackbird song.. so typical of may here-- but more than that I love the unrequited love between the moon and the sun.. what sadness.. in that brief encounter.
ReplyDeleteI agree ... it does seem like a sad love affair.
DeleteBeautiful cara...the video is la cerise sur le sundae:)
ReplyDeleteMerci! Glad you enjoyed it!
DeleteI am reading this again and it is so enjoyable...how dawn greets the night...the moon and the sun...such an early bird you are, you get to see both.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it enought to come back for more! The moon finally set at around 8:00 unfortuantely I was in the car and couldn't stop to take a photo of her in daylight! Being an early bird is pure survival .. I can't write well when people are grumping around me ;-)
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