Many think of us as pests
varmints, scavengers,
the rats of the sea coast
but we are proud and strong and
take no notice of what
people say we are.
We know who we are -
strong and sturdy -
busy, untidy and unruly.
We protect the coast
and our young
and our territory.
When larger birds of prey
enter our perimeters, we throng together
and rid our land of this peril.
We clean the sand
and the shore line
and the waters.
We protect the habitat
and love the world God
has given to us.
We live and love,
mate and nurture,
sing and praise God all day long.
We are misunderstood by many
but loved by our Creator.
We flourish and sing and fly freely forever.
We proudly call to one another
and laugh at danger.
We long to be a friend of mankind.
Author notes
This picture was taken in April 2005 on my vacation to the Bahamas. The gulls were always around and were comforting to me. I loved them and they were good company.
fyi...this one is actually called a Laughing Gull - I think it's a great name for this gull. Thanks to Michael Shepherd for this info on this bird! Check out his great site at www.birdinfo.com !
see my photo at
www.birdinfo.com/A Images L/LaughingGull_0008.html
Please do not use this photo without my permission. Thanks,
Written April 23rd, 2005
In a list
What did you think
Comments
1 - 31 of 31
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Pretty Good
I'm not sure if this is trophy material, but still not bad A little mis mash, but not to much. Thanks for the entry. -
Pretty Good
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This is a lovely picture and a lovely write which i feel captured the essence of the gull. You have done a marvelous job.
LIZ -
Thanks for running this contest. The poems were all wonderful and the winners truly blessed me. - joanne
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I love how it's from the bird's point of view. THe gulls are indeed quite misunderstood. Thanks for entering my contest, this is a beautiful poem!
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I felt the sadness in this sometimes it is true to life and people being misunderstood.Yet you wrote of the birds beautifuly and seeing those positive quailties of them insteed. Very nicely written Joanne. Sherry~ ♥
Edited on Jul 16, 11:51 p.m. because ''. -
I like the gulls too and find them comforting as well. Interesting personification of the gulls perhaps you have read their minds. Thank you for entering the contest. cake
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squak!!!
wow.... i see why that essay i wrote reminded you so much of this poem... your apostrophe of thoughts through their eyes the purpose they serve. even their juliblent songs are sailor's welcome when they near land... i especially loved:
"sing and praise God all day long.
We are misunderstood by many
but loved by our Creator.
We flourish and sing and fly freely forever.
We proudly call to one another
and laugh at danger."
crazy gulls out in the storm... i took an aweseome photo of one last weekend of as it leaped off the lighthouse at the breakwater... it was beautiful and for one moment the silly thing wasn't so ungraceful. and in finding nemo.... mine mine mine!!!! hahah poor frank he's drunk again and it's not even noon, HE"S GOT A FISH STRANGLING HIM!!! yes i just ruined that deep moment...
but thankyou for sharing your poem, it's awesome connection
God bless yah
phil -
I love the seagulls at the beach! They are so full of life and always seem so happy. I saw one once... with one leg.. I want you to know that that bird acted like he had 2 legs and didn't seem to have a care in the world... now why can't we live like that? I love this happy poem of yours! ~Melissa♥
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Hey I like this, very original, and true too i think! Nice one, well done, and thanks very much for commenting on my poem. rach xx
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Thank you so much Penny. You are right about the Christian connection. I didn't even realize.....I just know I was filled with such love for them when I was on my little vacation. Thank you dear friend.
-joanne -
This too, is a most beautiful poem. I love how you have given so very much personality to the gulls. You know as I was reading this it occured to me that this is also a good metaphor for Christians in a lot of ways. We too, are misunderstood and thought of very lowly at times. We also try to clean the world around us and are loved by the Creator. I just wanted to share with you that there is much more to your poem than you may have realized and this is divinely inspired. God Bless,
Penny
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I can't stand seagulls myself, but to each his own
Anyway, this is a nice tribute to the animal, and educational as well. Good job and good luck in the contest.
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This is a very interesting poem. Its nice how you took the persecptive of the underdog.. so to speak of the bird world. It is very true that seagulls are greatly disliked by mostly everyone. You represented the birds very nicely. If they could read, I am sure they would be giving you applauds as well. You added a lot of imagation to this poem. I would not think about seagulls, or any animal for that matter to be religous. That was interesting. Good write, thank you for sharing.
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This is such a cute poem, Reminds me how they portayed these birds in finding nemo. know what I mean. anyways great write.
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I live by the Sea in the Uk. I am so used to gulls and I think seeing them by the sea makes people call them sea gulls. I liked this poem it was really good and enjoyable.
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My first thought: the comment before would get more points if she would use less lingo chat.
Anyway...When I looked at your photo, the first thing I did, was run through your poem and scan it for any words that said:
SEAGULL
I guess it is one of those silly things that amuse me. We all grew up calling them seagulls, but there is no such bird named a seagull. The dictionary says: mostly white aquatic bird having long pointed wings and short legs and a gull, especially one found near coastal areas.
As bird watchers....there is no classifacations for seagulls. There are many different kinds of gulls ie, laughing gull, but NO seagull.
Maybe it was Johnathan Livingston that gave Seagulls a "name".
You did a good job with the laughing gull. Here is my discription of the laughing gull. allpoetry.com/Poem/863188
laughing gulls gliding
scavengers and scroungers too
amusing themselves
Thanks for entering.
Cheryl
Cheers!!
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Thaks for your support! Keep writing. Writing is life!
-joanne -
hey hun
wow i luv the picture it is soooooooooooooo cute
u r fab at writing poetry
u should get some published
i wish i was as gd as u
keep up the gr8 poetry
gr8 2 c u living for god
God bless
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx -
nice job you made your point very clear!!! sweet!!
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I love seagulls! People aound me are always talking smack about them but if you look you're find that they are beautiful birds! They're really gutsy and actually quite smart! Im trying to sound all serious and while Im tryping this im thinking of the Finding Nemo gulls "Mine, mine, mine!" Lol. Hilarious. But yeah, fantasic poem.
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Oh yes!~ Yes!! YESSSSS!! Bravo! ( sorry, that's what happens when you preach to teh choir
) Well written and informative too. Long live the rats of the sea!
Long -
Great write
After watching locusts last night I too am grateful for these majestic birds. I find them rather entertaining. -
This was nicely done! It was very informative... I did not know those facts that you shared with us, i will forever look at the sea gulls in a new light! Good luck in the contest!
S~
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People often do look at the "gulls' as scavangers, and pests. I am a bird lover and find that these birds have their place in the ecosystem just as all God's creatures. I love how this was written from the perspective of the bird. You allowed the reader to learn how unique this bird truly is. Great job here! The best to you in this challenge!
Much Love,
renee ♥ -
Very nice, different from what I am used to, which is always nice!
~hell~ -
if i were the judge of that contest, this poem would win. "i am a bird" poems are usually so cliche, and always involve soaring high, spreading your wings, etc. it's nice, but boring. you've put a fresh and thoughtful twist on a worn subject. great job, and thanks for sharing! <3becca
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I must admit, i'm not much of a bird fan, having a phobia of them myself, but I really liked the spirituality of this poem, combined with the element of nature. Very well done, i'm impressed!
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Oh yes, misunderstood by many, but loved by the Creator. Interesting subject and a very nice poem. Thanks.
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Excellent, Exquisite
Ya know, Joanne, I can't imagine why anyone would not like seagulls. I love them! I love their soaring beauty and their plaintiff wail mingling with the salty air as the sea rushes to shore, then swiftly retreats. To me, seagulls are part and parcel with the ocean. I suppose you can tell I live in the Pacific Northwest very near Puget Sound or even the coastline.
This is a wonderful tribute to our glorious friends the seagulls! And, you captured a wonderful picture with your camera aimed with a well-trained eye!
Lots of love and hugs, B♥nnieQ
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great
this was very interesting piece, I liked the last stanza alot the title fits perfectly keep up the great work and thanks for the comment on my piece 'a typical day' i appreciate it!! xXxXx *Jordan**
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10 old applause
