Petulant nature
angry at summer’s demise.
Rain pelts. Thunder roars.
Lightning cracks and flashes.
Temper-tantrum stomping.
She pouts today.
Glum gray overcast sky,
like widow’s shroud.
Hides distinct features,
individual clouds indiscernible.
Cormorant swarm takes its leave.
Thousands bob in ocean.
Race forward, then streak to sky.
Mass exit. Black shapes,
like inkblots everywhere.
Provincetown deserters,
just like tourists.
Summer in their rearview mirror.
Fading. Disappearing. Gone.
Page turned.
Autumns’ quiet delights
somewhere on the horizon,
not quite yet in view.
Written for OLN at dVerse, the virtual pub for poets. Photo and video taken yesterday morning in Provincetown. Sadly, I didn’t think to get my phone to photograph and video tape it until the swarm’s mass had already passed … this is the tail end and it’s still incredible to look at these images!
lillian the home poet 
Hope it stops raining!
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I didn’t realise that cormorants migrate. What a way to mark the end of summer!
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Oh my gosh I have never seen so many Cormorants all at once! I can just imagine them all outstretched and drying off must be quite a sight too! Your poem is lovely Lillian and it reminded me that summer is just about over. 😕
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Good descriptor of nature pouting. Potent imagery here:
“Black shapes,
like inkblots everywhere.”
The inkblot speaks to me that as the climate erodes, some species will be better adapted to survival, e.g. these voracious eating machines.”
I can tell you are not looking forward to ending your Provincetown vacation. I don’t blame you a bit.
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Beautiful Lillian! I hate seeing summer leave but do anticipate the beauty of the next chapter!
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My goodness this is incredibly atmospheric and vividly portrayed, Lillian! I so love; “Cormorant swarm takes its leave. Thousands bob in ocean. Race forward, then streak to sky. Mass exit. Black shapes, like inkblots everywhere.” Autumn is just around the corner! 💝💝
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This feels so apt to me… I loved the whole poem, and this line in particular resonated with me 🙂
❤
David
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Nicely captured, Lillian. Inkblots, bidding us farewell in their rearview mirrors. Awesome work,
I’ve been watching the Canadian geese, congregating, getting ready to go. Soon the vees will be forming. Thanks.
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Wonderful poem — Like you, I love to see autumn creeping in. No bird congregations here yet though…..
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There is something sinister with cormorants… with their black wings and how they sit drying their wings… I have not seen them migrating but I have seen (and smelled) their colonies.
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