Gosh that was lovely James. I had a serious nod of recognition and agreement with you here "worrying about the wild is my superpower". Tomorrow I'll look for, and delight in, my local little swifts and ponder the same.
So pitch perfect and reverential, so grounded and human. You've shown a glimpse into something, where being so grounded can also have wings. I was entranced so am unable to be too specific, which is a compliment to spellcasting, I think, to stilled, respectful observations and renderings. You've left me with feelings - flight, weather - and images: a parent slipping from a hole in the wall, and the air shimmering. Rippling, that's what I think you said of this particular swift. What a way to enter into the world, into the first step of sky. And what a way to be honoured for it, with reverend poetry.
Made the same mistake re:running just last week. Been 28 years and tried a burst along the Severn in town. Not a good look, not a good result. Still, as I stood gasping, i watched a fistful of swifts gunning up and down the river - showing house martins and swallows how it should really be done!
What a joy to read this piece, James. Swifts inspire you to soar into the sky, every word sings. Your imagination and bringing together of many threads is another, unmentioned superpower. xo
I think they and all of us are but perhaps not because they're dead -- i.e. the dead -- but they inhabit another dimension, ineffable in so many ways.
It's a bit like these questions that I keep circling back to:
Where do we come from?
Where do we go?
Is 'this' the whole deal, or is there something else?
NB. The swift numbers in South Brent are hugely depleted along with the swallows. It's bound to be a consequence of something and all I can pray for is that this isn't the beginning of the end.
Thanks Julian. A group of swifts arrived here this week. Numbers now in the twenties. I didn't know that the non breeding young arrive later than the breeders. So the sky here is filled with them for a little while.
What a beautiful post, swifts are my favourite birds.
When I first moved to the area of Edinburgh where I currently live, there were probably 10 pairs of Swifts nesting in our immediate local area. I've identified three actual nest sites over the years. The numbers have declined over the past few years and this year, I've only seen a few anywhere in Edinburgh. We put up nest boxes on our building last time we had the roof repaired, the young swifts seem to have checked them out last year and this year, so fingers crossed they may nest there one year
Your imagery enticed me to order “Winged”. I look forward to it. Here, in my space in Ontario, we have seen a sharp decline in swallows. Though more grounded birds than swifts, swallows also own the skies and following their arrowhead patterns thru the air leaves a sense of wonder. Thank you for your thoughtful posts.
Thank you for this beautiful poetic piece, so delightful in its depth and elegance! Perhaps swifts are psychopomps who guide the souls of the departed into the light?
Thank you for this; as a swift devotee I think this idea is thoroughly plausibe: "Or perhaps they’re granted some special grace and instead of falling they rise and form tiny swift clouds floating through space." I've just ordered Winged, it looks beautiful. Some years ago I had a very special hour or so of becoming marginally aquainted with one of these darkly celestial creatures - if you have a few moments you can read about it here: https://lizmilner.blog/2015/05/07/bird-tales-different-election/#swiftstory
Thank you James. This serendipitously arrived after I had been illuminated and grieved by the declining Swift population in my local village - a mist beautifully guided Swift Walk And Talk by the local nature conservation and environment trust. Loved your sharing and know what you mean about the sprint. Attempted one a few years back and broke my ankle! Silver lining was by going slower I’ve awakened with a great sense of urgency about the rapid and vast decline in biodiversity and appreciate any sharing of stories like this that invite people into the conversation. Thanks again. Wings book ordered!
Gosh that was lovely James. I had a serious nod of recognition and agreement with you here "worrying about the wild is my superpower". Tomorrow I'll look for, and delight in, my local little swifts and ponder the same.
Thank you Natalie! It's a difficult superpower to handle . . .
So pitch perfect and reverential, so grounded and human. You've shown a glimpse into something, where being so grounded can also have wings. I was entranced so am unable to be too specific, which is a compliment to spellcasting, I think, to stilled, respectful observations and renderings. You've left me with feelings - flight, weather - and images: a parent slipping from a hole in the wall, and the air shimmering. Rippling, that's what I think you said of this particular swift. What a way to enter into the world, into the first step of sky. And what a way to be honoured for it, with reverend poetry.
Thank you Peter. Very much appreciated.
Made the same mistake re:running just last week. Been 28 years and tried a burst along the Severn in town. Not a good look, not a good result. Still, as I stood gasping, i watched a fistful of swifts gunning up and down the river - showing house martins and swallows how it should really be done!
Thanks Paul. Hope you didn't tear a tendon like I did!
So beautiful a story thank you.
Thank you
All of this is gorgeous
Thanks Natalie
What a joy to read this piece, James. Swifts inspire you to soar into the sky, every word sings. Your imagination and bringing together of many threads is another, unmentioned superpower. xo
Thank you Carmine, I enjoyed writing this one.
Oh this was utterly joyous James! Like swift flight itself.
Thanks Lynne!
So this is the question:
Are swifts drawn to the dead?
I think they and all of us are but perhaps not because they're dead -- i.e. the dead -- but they inhabit another dimension, ineffable in so many ways.
It's a bit like these questions that I keep circling back to:
Where do we come from?
Where do we go?
Is 'this' the whole deal, or is there something else?
NB. The swift numbers in South Brent are hugely depleted along with the swallows. It's bound to be a consequence of something and all I can pray for is that this isn't the beginning of the end.
Blessings, Julian
Thanks Julian. A group of swifts arrived here this week. Numbers now in the twenties. I didn't know that the non breeding young arrive later than the breeders. So the sky here is filled with them for a little while.
What a beautiful post, swifts are my favourite birds.
When I first moved to the area of Edinburgh where I currently live, there were probably 10 pairs of Swifts nesting in our immediate local area. I've identified three actual nest sites over the years. The numbers have declined over the past few years and this year, I've only seen a few anywhere in Edinburgh. We put up nest boxes on our building last time we had the roof repaired, the young swifts seem to have checked them out last year and this year, so fingers crossed they may nest there one year
Thank you Juliet. It's sad that there's a decline in your area. They are little miracles.
Your imagery enticed me to order “Winged”. I look forward to it. Here, in my space in Ontario, we have seen a sharp decline in swallows. Though more grounded birds than swifts, swallows also own the skies and following their arrowhead patterns thru the air leaves a sense of wonder. Thank you for your thoughtful posts.
Thank you, Sandra, Winged is flying towards you now. I'm told it will take approximately 10 days to arrive. J
Thank you for this beautiful poetic piece, so delightful in its depth and elegance! Perhaps swifts are psychopomps who guide the souls of the departed into the light?
Thanks Sue, I think you might be right!
"Tiny swift clouds, floating through space." Ah, what a beautiful image. I'll carry that with me today.
Thank you. I'm sure it's true btw, but my telescope isn't powerful enough to confirm it . . .
Thank you for this; as a swift devotee I think this idea is thoroughly plausibe: "Or perhaps they’re granted some special grace and instead of falling they rise and form tiny swift clouds floating through space." I've just ordered Winged, it looks beautiful. Some years ago I had a very special hour or so of becoming marginally aquainted with one of these darkly celestial creatures - if you have a few moments you can read about it here: https://lizmilner.blog/2015/05/07/bird-tales-different-election/#swiftstory
Thanks Liz. I'll read that soon.
A beautiful nod to the elegance and mystic nature of swifts. I will forever imagine them rising to form tiny swift clouds floating through space.
Thank you!
Thank you James. This serendipitously arrived after I had been illuminated and grieved by the declining Swift population in my local village - a mist beautifully guided Swift Walk And Talk by the local nature conservation and environment trust. Loved your sharing and know what you mean about the sprint. Attempted one a few years back and broke my ankle! Silver lining was by going slower I’ve awakened with a great sense of urgency about the rapid and vast decline in biodiversity and appreciate any sharing of stories like this that invite people into the conversation. Thanks again. Wings book ordered!
Ouch! That trumps my torn tendon . . . And thanks for ordering Winged. Much appreciated Simon.
Gorgeous writing. How lucky you are to live in a part of the world that contains swifts.
Thanks Nikki.