Tangles & Tails: Tracey Kiff-Judson's Blog

Turkey!

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Written by: Tracey Kiff-Judson
Category: Blog


On a recent bike ride, I happened across a group of turkeys …

                                                         and by that I mean REAL turkeys …

                                                                                         and by that I mean WILD turkeys.

I hopped off my bike to take some pictures, and well … I’m afraid I ruffled a few feathers.

The males were impressive with their puffing.  Peacocks have nothing on these Tom Turkeys!

Now all this got me to thinking, and thinking, and thinking …

                                that I have nothing poetic to write about turkeys.

I brainstormed:

              Why did the turkey cross the road …

              Wattle you want?

              Gobble.  Gobble.  Gobble.

              Talkin’ Turkey

              Poultry polka       

              Anybody want a drumstick?

              Pass the gravy

              Turkey Trot

              Seven months to Thanksgiving

              Spring turkey?

 

At midnight, I was drawing a complete turkey blank.

 

D.H. Lawrence to the rescue from 1922:

Turkey-Cock

You ruffled black blossom,
You glossy dark wind.

Your sort of gorgeousness,
Dark and lustrous
And unfathomable

And poppy-glossy,
Is the gorgeousness that evokes my darkest admiration.

…

Your wattles are the color of steel which has been red hot
And is going cold,
Cooling to a powdery pale-oxidized sky-blue.

Why do you have wattles, and a naked wattled head?
Why do you arch your naked-set eye with a more than
              comprehensible haughtiness?

The vulture is bald; so is the condor, obscenely;
But only you have thrown this amazing mantilla of oxidized
              sky-blue

And hot red over you.

 

Hmmm, accurate description, but perhaps a bit overblown? 

I guess I am not in a position to criticize when my most poetic thought was “Gobble. Gobble. Gobble.”

But fortunately, it is Poetry Friday! And I know some people who will have fantastic poems for you. Start by visiting the amazingly articulate Irene Latham at Live Your Poem!  Irene adds to the beautifully evolving progressive poem, presents her poem-in-your-pocket display, and shares an ArtSpeak prayer.

36 comments

  • Tracey, I adore your sense of humor! You ruffled some feathers.... :) :) :) And the speech bubbles are fabulous. Thanks for sharing your wild turkeys with us! xo
  • Thanks for the fun post -- so enjoyed following your train of thought -- your sense of humor is the best! Wattle you do next?!
  • Oh, my, I was with you until I saw Lawrence's poem about turkey cocks. Wow. "You ruffled black blossom" is exactly what that is on their back side, isn't it? Your list poem is truly a poem, and funny! 
  • Ha! Ha! I adore your words, Tracey, & call this serendipity to come upon such feathered wonders. Lawrence's poem shows he knows them well, but I also love your "Poultry Polka" along with the "Pass the Gravy", & the speech bubbles. Amazing, but I did speech bubbles today, too! Hope your cycling brings continued fun for you!
    • Oh, Linda!  I can't wait to see your use of speech bubbles!  I haven't found your post yet, but I think I will get there soon!
  • I love your photos--and your brainstorm list made me laugh, as did Ms. Turkey's carefully-color-coded speech bubble.
  • Bwa ha ha ha! Pass the gravy. Yes, ma'am! They are beautiful in their very turkey ways...that blue next to red on a brown woodsy bird is something. I do love the idea of sharing a brain storm. Not only did it give me a giggle...it's a peek inside your process. And, that is very poetic!
    • Yes!  Their colors are surprising when you really get a good look at them.  The turquoise on the chest feathers was unexpected too!
  • Hi Tracey!
    How often do we think of turkeys in April? Never. Your biking surprise is luckily our wonderment, too. The images are captivating.Your presentation is adorable. The female turkey's thot bubble made me laugh out loud as did your precious, "Wattle you want?", in the list poem. And maybe I luv overblown [great pun you wrote there] when the subject suits it, but the D.H. Lawrence poem reads from a keen  observant avian-watcher. I like it a lot. I wonder if birds were a keen interest of his.
    I wish you many more bike rides of wild surprises [that you will share with us] & also a very happy Poetry Month.
    [ jan/bookseedstudio]
  • Tracey, your humor is rolling along. This is a fun blog post today. I got the opportunity to see one of those amazing wild turkeys lollygaging on the community property last year. Your little cartoon made me smile.
  • So. Much. Fun.
    And here's a connection--a turkey walked across the road in front of us a couple of days ago when we were in PA near Fallingwater!
  • "You glossy dark wind" -- what a poetic spirit Lawrence had to come up with his view of turkeys! I guess Benjamin Franklin had a similar view (when he wanted to make them our national bird). You got some great shots of their impressive fanned tails!
  • This post is so funny! You pictures are fantastic! I've never seen turkeys up close and they look so big. I have often felt the need for a poem, but was unable to feel poetic at the moment, so I can relate. But your humor and sound bubbles. 
  • The speech bubbles are PERFECT! Those Toms are gorgeous too. I get to see wild turkeys occasionally at my mom and dad's home/neighborhood. They mesmerize me.
    • The are very interesting!  I am glad that you have a chance to see them sometimes too.  I would have liked to watch longer, but I think they found me annoying! : )
  • You certainly came upon a fascinating display! I love seeing your brainstorming process. Maybe add something about the way they strut? Fun to consider!
  • I love seeing wild turkeys! And I adore that ruffled black blossom (though, yes, perhaps a bit overblown, but still!). Thank you for the laughs this morning, Tracey. Creativity comes in so many forms!
  • I'm a little late to the Turkey Party, but this absolutely made my day.  HA!!!!! Love your carpe diem spirit and resourcefulness and generous sense of humor - thanks!! Gobble-gobble! 
  • Such a turkey-licious filled post and poems. And your pics are fabulous, thanks for sharing all Tracey!
  • Tracey-- I love your turkey photos! And your brainstorm list made me smile. "Wattle you want?" in particular tickled me... Honestly, I feel like this stream of consciousness list is a sort of poem in itself. So many different angles to a turkey! Thank you for sharing. 

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