indigo
like deepest ink
falling from eyelids to sink
near drowned, near dry
in the faraway cry
of the curlew's
pure harmonic. Hue
of heather in mournful light
before stars ignite
and the sea-change* that ripples
at their tidal edge, pulls
me to sorrow.
- In 2015, Curlews were added to the UK Red List, following losses of nearly half their breeding numbers over the preceding 20 years
Just 44 words for Lill’s quadrille prompt: Indigo. Title from Yeats’ poem “He reproves the Curlew”
PoetryPix 
I love the use of colour in your quadrille, Laura, and the movement in it: the ‘deepest ink / falling from eyelids to sink’ and the ‘sea-change that ripples / at their tidal edge’. And so poignant.
many thanks Kim for your appreciation
My pleasure, Laura.
Indigo grief…..so beautifully portrayed here.
spot on succinct Lillian and thank you for the prompt
This is a true blues, from eyelids to sink… curlews I only know from the mountains
a real ‘mood indigo’ evolved in that cry
ps curlews nest on high moors but otherwise live at the tide lines and yours often migrate here to keep warm!
Oh… that sounds like the ones I know….
Laura, I like how you used indigo in your poem; through tears, through cries, through sorrow. I get a lump in my throat thinking of these gentle birds being pushed to endangerment and perhaps beyond.
thank you Lisa the poem went there without me knowing!
But there is something so mournful about the cry of the Curlew that lends itself to poetry (as Yeats does at least 3 times) and now has become an alarm call for their generations
I googled and listened to their call. Very distinctive. You are welcome and may they keep well protected from today forward.
The depth of sadness in your words is evident and touching
thank for for such a feeling comment
Each and every line is a memento from emotion….love the way this grows, the twist, turn, almost inversion.
many thanks Ain – it had its own momentum and I just followed along (and did you notice I even went for rhyme this time 😉 )
A dreamy quadrille turned sorrowful.😞
yes there is something dreamy at the start like a mist before the words took flight
A sea change indeed. Poor birdies. Vividly depicted, and melancholy.
thank you – the birds evidently called up this one out of necessity
didn’t see that bit of sadness coming
nice one
much♡love
I knew it was going to be sad because of that lovely moody blue
It seems an endless march over the edge, one species after another. But the birds really haunt. (K)
and some have an especially haunting call
The color and rhyme of sorrow is poignant in this, Laura.
thank you for noticing the rhyme Lynn
This is beatuifully written, Laura. I love the image of indigo tears falling!
a bit like ‘blue eyes crying in the rain’ eh?
Yes, a real classic!
poor birds.
vivid words!
thank you for the rhyme
That was so full of the feels, Laura! Great poem!
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
Wonderful slant rhyme, and a rhythm to dance to – love it, Laura!
had to put in a couple of those to break the predicatability so thank you for noticing and appreciating
Haunting, poignant, rhyming quadrille, Laura.
yes rhyming for a change 🙂
Whether rhymed or not, your writing is ever lovely. 😊
and you are ever lovely with your generous comments x
Can’t help it, Laura. Love your poetry. ❤️
here on the central california coast, curlews walk the shore still, sometimes disturbed by dogs. while I love canines, I wish they would leave the shorebirds undisturbed ~
Interesting creatures I was not familiar with. I love your placement of rhyme.
thank you Mish – Curlews are so endangered that since 2017 there is World Curlew Day every 21st April
Laura, the connection to nature and loss creates a moving, mournful atmosphere.
Much love,
David
thank you for hearing it David
Beautifully written, Laura. I love the rhyme with the subtle rhythm which allows the reader to enjoy every word and feel sadness for this little bird.
thank you Cris for your encouraging appreciation
you moved me to feel– for a bird, even. and one i knew nothing about. impressive.
that is good to hear – and when you hear the cry of the curlew you will understand
The subtle rhyming reminds me of a sorrowful riddle that goes awry. I hope the situation with the curlews improves 😦
love the description you gave here
This is so clever in the way that it perfectly paints sorrow and grieving without showing you what the sadness is related to. It’s a big miasma to which we can all add our own meaning.
you hit the nail with that big miasma and how we all relate to a poem- well said
Your poem pulls me to sorrow. How stupid we are to let so many species fade to oblivion.
we do not see far enough ahead to the consequences of farming practices