I’m frightened today for
the ivory-billed woodpecker
because he
is a beautiful affirmation
in the face of
degradation and waste
and as such is
a good excuse for
doing nothing
see, they will say
after every binge
there’s still a half-full bottle
somewhere
I’m frightened
for the ivory billed woodpecker
because it’s no coincidence
to some people
that there may be more
in Cuba
the passenger pigeon
and the Carolina parakeet
sit in a Manhattan loft whispering
that the ivory billed woodpecker’s
sold out
the bison hits his cell hourly
and tells him reemergence
isn’t all it’s cracked up
to be
and the scientists
will argue about his feathers
reclassify him
and make him as real
as the posters they’ve fingered
for years
someone
pinch me
I’m dreaming
says the researcher
that can’t be
it is
it can’t be
meanwhile
the bird
pretends he doesn’t know
he’s been extinct
and knocks on a few more trees
hello I’m back
hello it’s me
I call myself
levorantioreloakackackor
what you call me is irrelevant
I am frightened for the
ivory-billed woodpecker
because
he is no longer as historic or tragic
as we prefer our myths to be
Dark Matter 
April 30th, 2005 at 7:05 am
Re: lovely
Yikes… I SO understand the second stanza, and right from the first this poem makes me sad, you know, all of our excuses for doing nothing.
April 30th, 2005 at 7:05 am
Re: lovely
Yikes… I SO understand the second stanza, and right from the first this poem makes me sad, you know, all of our excuses for doing nothing.
April 30th, 2005 at 7:05 am
Re: lovely
Yikes… I SO understand the second stanza, and right from the first this poem makes me sad, you know, all of our excuses for doing nothing.
April 30th, 2005 at 7:05 am
Re: lovely
Yikes… I SO understand the second stanza, and right from the first this poem makes me sad, you know, all of our excuses for doing nothing.
April 30th, 2005 at 7:05 am
Re: lovely
Yikes… I SO understand the second stanza, and right from the first this poem makes me sad, you know, all of our excuses for doing nothing.
April 29th, 2005 at 3:53 am
lovely
and so creative as usual. Um, a thought: what if you cut the first two stanzas and the last?
April 29th, 2005 at 3:53 am
lovely
and so creative as usual. Um, a thought: what if you cut the first two stanzas and the last?
April 29th, 2005 at 3:53 am
lovely
and so creative as usual. Um, a thought: what if you cut the first two stanzas and the last?
April 29th, 2005 at 3:53 am
lovely
and so creative as usual. Um, a thought: what if you cut the first two stanzas and the last?
April 29th, 2005 at 3:53 am
lovely
and so creative as usual. Um, a thought: what if you cut the first two stanzas and the last?
April 28th, 2005 at 8:57 pm
i am actually liking the last stanza a lot
even to the point where i can see it double as the opening stanza
with some history as to the myth of “the ivory billed woodpecker” added
dos centavos
April 28th, 2005 at 8:57 pm
i am actually liking the last stanza a lot
even to the point where i can see it double as the opening stanza
with some history as to the myth of “the ivory billed woodpecker” added
dos centavos
April 28th, 2005 at 8:57 pm
i am actually liking the last stanza a lot
even to the point where i can see it double as the opening stanza
with some history as to the myth of “the ivory billed woodpecker” added
dos centavos
April 28th, 2005 at 8:57 pm
i am actually liking the last stanza a lot
even to the point where i can see it double as the opening stanza
with some history as to the myth of “the ivory billed woodpecker” added
dos centavos
April 28th, 2005 at 8:57 pm
i am actually liking the last stanza a lot
even to the point where i can see it double as the opening stanza
with some history as to the myth of “the ivory billed woodpecker” added
dos centavos
April 28th, 2005 at 8:35 pm
Re: unusual optimism from the bird geek
It’s not, of course. 🙂
April 28th, 2005 at 8:35 pm
Re: unusual optimism from the bird geek
It’s not, of course. 🙂
April 28th, 2005 at 8:35 pm
Re: unusual optimism from the bird geek
It’s not, of course. 🙂
April 28th, 2005 at 8:35 pm
Re: unusual optimism from the bird geek
It’s not, of course. 🙂
April 28th, 2005 at 8:35 pm
Re: unusual optimism from the bird geek
It’s not, of course. 🙂
April 28th, 2005 at 8:12 pm
unusual optimism from the bird geek
Never say never. People said that the Mauritius kestrel was doomed, too, until a group of dedicated individuals bred it back from six known individuals. If the ivory-billed woodpecker has survived under the radar for over 50 years, it may be stronger than you think.
Not that that’s what the poem is necessarily about.
April 28th, 2005 at 8:12 pm
unusual optimism from the bird geek
Never say never. People said that the Mauritius kestrel was doomed, too, until a group of dedicated individuals bred it back from six known individuals. If the ivory-billed woodpecker has survived under the radar for over 50 years, it may be stronger than you think.
Not that that’s what the poem is necessarily about.
April 28th, 2005 at 8:12 pm
unusual optimism from the bird geek
Never say never. People said that the Mauritius kestrel was doomed, too, until a group of dedicated individuals bred it back from six known individuals. If the ivory-billed woodpecker has survived under the radar for over 50 years, it may be stronger than you think.
Not that that’s what the poem is necessarily about.
April 28th, 2005 at 8:12 pm
unusual optimism from the bird geek
Never say never. People said that the Mauritius kestrel was doomed, too, until a group of dedicated individuals bred it back from six known individuals. If the ivory-billed woodpecker has survived under the radar for over 50 years, it may be stronger than you think.
Not that that’s what the poem is necessarily about.
April 28th, 2005 at 8:12 pm
unusual optimism from the bird geek
Never say never. People said that the Mauritius kestrel was doomed, too, until a group of dedicated individuals bred it back from six known individuals. If the ivory-billed woodpecker has survived under the radar for over 50 years, it may be stronger than you think.
Not that that’s what the poem is necessarily about.
April 28th, 2005 at 7:48 pm
bravo!
I heard a news piece about the ivory billed woodpecker on NPR this morning on my way to work. At first I found it reaffirming that the bird survived and is beginning to thrive. Then I felt the sinking feeling brought on by the thought “unless man hunts him down or ruins his growth with his curiosity.”
April 28th, 2005 at 7:48 pm
bravo!
I heard a news piece about the ivory billed woodpecker on NPR this morning on my way to work. At first I found it reaffirming that the bird survived and is beginning to thrive. Then I felt the sinking feeling brought on by the thought “unless man hunts him down or ruins his growth with his curiosity.”
April 28th, 2005 at 7:48 pm
bravo!
I heard a news piece about the ivory billed woodpecker on NPR this morning on my way to work. At first I found it reaffirming that the bird survived and is beginning to thrive. Then I felt the sinking feeling brought on by the thought “unless man hunts him down or ruins his growth with his curiosity.”
April 28th, 2005 at 7:48 pm
bravo!
I heard a news piece about the ivory billed woodpecker on NPR this morning on my way to work. At first I found it reaffirming that the bird survived and is beginning to thrive. Then I felt the sinking feeling brought on by the thought “unless man hunts him down or ruins his growth with his curiosity.”
April 28th, 2005 at 7:48 pm
bravo!
I heard a news piece about the ivory billed woodpecker on NPR this morning on my way to work. At first I found it reaffirming that the bird survived and is beginning to thrive. Then I felt the sinking feeling brought on by the thought “unless man hunts him down or ruins his growth with his curiosity.”