We need one of these on every beach.
The bird feeder has been busy. Look carefully at the second photo to see the departing Goldfinch.
The following poem, “I am very bothered” by Simon Armitage was one much enjoyed by the teenagers I used to teach. It touched something in them. I was pleased to hear that he is our new Poet Laureate.
I am very bothered when I think
of the bad things I have done in my life.
Not least that time in the chemistry lab
when I held a pair of scissors by the blades
and played the handles
in the naked lilac flame of the Bunsen burner;
then called your name, and handed them over.O the unrivalled stench of branded skin
as you slipped your thumb and middle finger in,
then couldn’t shake off the two burning rings. Marked,
the doctor said, for eternity.Don’t believe me, please, if I say
that was just my butterfingered way, at thirteen,
of asking you if you would marry me.
James Birrell
July 10, 2019 at 9:20 pm
Where was that picture of the sign taken?
mybeautfulthings
July 10, 2019 at 9:43 pm
I’m sorry, I don’t know. A friend sent me the photo knowing that I would love it. 🙂
nrhatch
June 10, 2019 at 12:57 pm
From a domestic violence perspective, that poem speaks of the desire to possess . . . not love.
mybeautfulthings
June 10, 2019 at 5:14 pm
That’s a very interesting perspective that I hadn’t thought of before. It spoke to me of the difficulty some have of expressing their emotions and trying even awful ways to get attention. It’s many years since I read this with teenagers and I think today, your view might well be the dominant one.
Heyjude
June 9, 2019 at 6:27 pm
Is that a bullfinch? What a beauty!
mybeautfulthings
June 10, 2019 at 11:36 am
There’s a pair coming regularly to the feeders. They are very beautiful. 🙂
Kim Ridgeon
June 9, 2019 at 6:25 pm
That poem. Read it to my youngest groups(13 year olds). They found it brutal. We discussed. They found it brutal/beautiful.
mybeautfulthings
June 9, 2019 at 6:35 pm
Exactly so – so much to be read into it and for the teens to discuss. 🙂