Walking up the hill on a gray day, past the low cottage where Glyn is eating his solitary breakfast and up the emerald lane we disturb a family of four young ravens, newly fledged and full of the first joys of awkward flight. They rise into the wind and are tossed around in the turbulent sky while their parents sail on the ocean of air like anthracite bird ships, so in tune with their element, so sure and swift.
The parents dance with the wind, folding back wings to tumble in
ecstasy, hanging still on the wind's edge. The young ones will learn how to balance the air on their soot black wings. For now they delight in their stumbling flight as we watch and wish for wings.
Wouldn't wings be cool?
ReplyDeleteRavens are wonderful birds - they look ancient and full of mysteries.
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful description of ravens! Such wonderful birds on the wing, and so amusingly like Edwardian vicars pompously strutting on the grass!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy your writing so much - it transports me immediately to the countryside, and it's made even more enjoyable by having ginger cats for company.
What a wonderful description of the raven parents and their young. Have you ginger cats read Ursula LeGuin's Catwings books? they are about some cats with wings, and wonderful illustrations of them, too!
ReplyDeleteJust to let you know - I tagged you!
ReplyDeleteHere in the city (Seattle), we have crows, not ravens, and most people think that they are large enough.
ReplyDeleteI am watching for fledgling crows- it is that time of year. And in the city, there are so many dangers for the young ones. But, after a week or so, it's much harder to tell the babies from their parents. Unless they're demanding to be fed.
I love watching the corvids fly! Their pinions like fingers outstretched as if feeling their way through the air... and the shadowy-ness of them too.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful writing and blog. Great pictures too. Love your ginger kitties :)
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