One of the challenges posed by Audubon Alaska for its month-long Bird Poetry Corner was to write an ekphrastic poem. They provided a photograph to use as inspiration, but I recently saw this video of flamingos let loose in the Denver Zoo and knew a flamingo poem was about to take flight. Watching this video was also inspiring. Audubon did paint this stunning, if somewhat stern looking, flamingo:

A flamboyance of flamingos
march in formation
like an army of wind-up tin soldiers.
As they parade, heads are bobbing
up and down
on sinuous necks,
pivoting from side to side
seeking their one true love.
Suddenly, their wings rise,
And a multitude of roses
burst into bloom.
Draft, © Catherine Flynn, 2020
Previous “News From the Natural World” poems:
April 27: A Northwoods Lullaby
April 26: A Paddling of Mallards
April 25: World Penguin Day
April 24: Save the Birds
April 23: An Earth Day ABC
April 21: Nature’s Harmony
April 20: Crowns of Moss
April 19: Propagation
April 18: At the Pond
April 17: The Red Chair
April 16: Dear Venus
April 15: Listen
April 14: Ode to a Tide Pool
April 11: What Does A Bird’s Egg Know?
April 10: Clusters of Clover
April 9: Song of the Pink Moon
April 8: Jewel of the Jungle
April 5: Phantom of the Forest
April 4: To Build a Nest
April 3: Apple Cake
April 2: Specimen
April 1: Forest Snail
Oh, flamingoes are flamboyant, aren’t they? I love rising as a multitude of roses.
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I echo Margaret’s favorite, too. Freeing those flamingos is a celebrated ritual each year here. I’ve loved all your nature poems, Catherine!
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[…] 29: A Flamboyance of Flamingos April 27: A Northwoods Lullaby April 26: A Paddling of Mallards April 25: World Penguin Day […]
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