I saw a graceful bird
perched on a branch above,
her wingspan wide, and feathers bright
and sparkling in the sun.
She didn’t move,
she hardly stirred,
her eyes closed like she was dreaming.
She was a breathtaking sight,
majestic and serene,
her feathers like a painting,
each one a work of art.
She was adorned with gems,
small iridescent beads,
and underneath her wings,
were soft, downy tufts.
As she breathed in the crisp air,
I thought of the fragile bones,
hidden deep beneath her skin,
her heart that beat so fast.
I gazed into her eyes,
which were pure and full of life,
her pupils like the midnight sky,
mysterious and dark.
She didn’t seem to mind my stare,
and even though she couldn’t speak,
I felt a sense of calm,
and I knew she understood.
I marveled at her poise,
her elegance and grace,
and then I saw beneath her beak,
a small piece of plastic waste,
a single shred of bright pink plastic,
jutting out from her delicate mouth.
It was a tragic sight,
a symbol of our careless ways,
a reminder of the harm we do,
to creatures great and small.
I watched her for a while,
mesmerized by her beauty,
and then I knew what I had to do.
I gently climbed the tree,
and with careful hands,
removed the plastic from her mouth,
and set her free to fly.
Description of the Process
I choose Elizabeth Bishop’s poetry “The Fish” because it is a lovely and detailed poem that perfectly represents a specific period. I had the impression that I was on the boat with Bishop as she was describing the fish and its environs in such wonderful detail. Her use of words impressed me, and I tried to emulate it in my own work. I altered some of the information, but it didn’t correspond to my personal experiences. Instead, I was using my imagination to develop a subject that would work well for Bishop’s writing style.
I adore birds and think they are intriguing animals. Therefore, I decided to write about one. Due to their elegance and beauty, I also believed that a bird would make an excellent topic for a poem. Using a different subject, I wanted to attempt to evoke the same sensation of mystery and astonishment that Bishop did in “The Fish.” Writing this imitation was challenging at times because I had to keep returning to Bishop’s poem to ensure I adhered to her style. Trying to create precise, unique descriptions was the most challenging aspect.
My favorite line from my imitation is “her pupils like the midnight sky, mysterious and dark.” This statement is my favorite because I believe it poetically and descriptively captures the spirit of the bird’s eyes. I believe this line and the original poem are comparable in that they both poetically and vividly explain a specific subject feature. The way Bishop describes the fish’s eyes is likewise incredibly vivid and unforgettable. After adopting Bishop’s approach, I realized that my writing was more comprehensive and descriptive.