LesleyScoble.com

Colleen of Word Craft Poetry #poetry challenge no. 322 asks us to write a syllabic poem about our spirit animal.

Celtic Myth

I was born in January and according to the Celts, the little wren is my spirit animal. I can identify with that. I am little and often seen darting about beneath the undergrowth.

The Little Wren

I first wrote a poem about the little written in 2020, during lockdown. I became familiar with a wren in a local wildlife garden. It was in free verse. I rewrote it as a waltz wave syllabic poem to meet Colleen’s poetry challenge. I’ve enjoyed the challenge, as it forced me to edit a lot.

The Waltz Wave was developed by Leo Waltz. It is a syllabaries form with a title and 19 lines. The pattern is: 1/2/1/2/3/2/1/2/3/4/3/2/1/2/3/2/1/2/1. I wrote the Little Wren as a double waltz wave poem.

The Little Wren

 A 
flick of
leaf
A flash
of light on
the ground
in
out of
sight
under a bush, 
shush; then, I
see the
wren.
It darts,
stops, starts, hops
here, there,
hith-
-er, thith-
-er,
whith-
-er the
hedge?
Tail stands
proud. To pause,
then goes
along
the edge	
of leafy
shrub and hedgerows
to sing in
high vol-
-ume.
How can
a bird so
small, have
so
big a
CALL?

Lesley Scoble, June 2023

Wren Day

I filmed the local wren taking a bath in a pond in a wildlife garden. 

While I film, I ponder by the pond…
I ponder on the fact that once upon a time they hunted the beautiful little wren. To celebrate St Stephen’s Day or ‘Wren Day’ on 26th December. On a day of wild revelry, Wren-boys would skewer them on poles or pitchforks. It was lucky to be handed a feather from the luckless little songbird. Can you believe it?

Not wishing to sign off on this gruesome note. I shall leave you with a quote from one of our greatest poets.

William Blake

_{Quote from his Auguries of Innocence—}

He who shall hurt the little wren
Shall never be belov’d by men.

William Blake

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Lesley lives in the City of London Square Mile. An artist, actor and sculptor (her first ceramic sculpture won the V&A inspired by… Award). Scenic artist & book illustrator, playwright, (her musical play, Rapscallion performed in inner city schools and theatre school); TV dancer; Animator and illustrator for TV production. Set up Pinecone Studios Ltd and IIMSI Ltd drama and filmmaking workshops in London – producing award-winning films made by children.