Yes it's true, as well as slugs I quite like crane flies. A first draft being re-written as I type. Well, I ask learners to share what they've just written in a 5 minute exercise so I should be prepared to do the same sometimes....CUPPED IN HANDS
Cradled - its every moment,
its months of squirming through dank earth,
its gangly climb up grass heads,
its spindly flight,
its yearning for brightness,
its lampshade patter.
This autumnstrosity
flumbering in my palms
until I release it
to take its chance
and fly towards the moon.
photo of crane fly copied from www.highroad.org
6 comments:
Interesting. Are crane flies in the same family as mosquitoes? They seem very similar.
Hi Paul and welocme.
As I understand it - yes, they're broadly in the same family but they do have important differences. Not least of which is that they don't bite. They are completely harmless to humans. In fact apart from lapping up the odd bit of nectar they don't consume anything during their few weeks of flight. Before then they exist as grubs (leather jackets) in the soil eating plant roots.
Although some crane fly are quite small like mosquitoes most are bigger.
Which country do you live in?
I like crane flies too! I enjoyed your poem as well, autumnstrosity is a great word!
cgp - Thanks. I love creating new forms of words from existing ones.
And in case anyone was wondering - this isn't the poem that was posted earlier. I wrote two back-to-back and this is the other one.
I love 'autumnstrosity' and 'flumbering'!
Also wanted to mention that I used your 'willow warbler' poem with two of my writing groups this week - it worked really well - and I also urged tham all to buy your book!!
Susan - by all means encourage others to buy from the field book!
I also enjoy introducing small press poets to learners - a huge source of inspiration. Including yours.
About Willow Warbler - I'd love to have it performed by a well attended reading. With most of the people being the leaves and key people being the italicised warbler weaving its way through them.
Thanks for telling me that. I know that several lecturers have used other poems with their undergraduates - very pleasing to know!
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