FROM THE PERCH ROCK CAUSEWAY, NEW BRIGHTON
A small boy is digging in the Autumn sand.
Ships pass in the deep channel. Someone
has made a stand of driftwood twigs topped
with modest baubles. Directly below us
on the sandstone rocks is a dead buzzard
spread eagled – yes, almost literally
the right word – its head gone or hidden,
its exposed viscera gnawed, its talons
limp. We are humans therefore forensic
so discuss the causes of the bird’s demise
and mutilation: low flying aircraft, rats?
Some spring tide will lift whatever remains
of the magnificent black tipped wingspan
out into the oceans.
Alan Horne
November 1, 2019I am reading Isabella Tree’s book about rewilding her farm – https://www.isabellatree.com/. One of the main sources of objection is the presence of decomposing dead animals, even though they give so much back as they rot. Maybe dead birds are OK for some reason. Glad to hear the buzzards have reached New Brighton!
David Selzer
November 1, 2019The buzzards must be moving north. They reached Hoole a few years back – https://davidselzer.com/2016/08/natural-selection/.