‘Birds Of A Feather’ is poem I wrote a few years ago, and I’m proudly reposting the words here to coincide with the “Indigenous Peoples Day” holiday in America on Monday 11th of October…
Below I have attached a song by Australia’s indigenous singer/songwriter Xavier Rudd … his famous classic “Spirit Bird” …
Birds Of A Feather
to colour us all tanned
black or white
didnβt seem right
even a humorous sight
maybe blue and green
wouldβve been a better blight
and Iβve been told orange
is a preferred skin tone
best we have more colours
Iβll go buy the paint drums
toss them together
shaken, not stirred
into one huge cocktail dish
and use a whale-hair paint brush
weβll all be covered the same
a faded colour purple
like tarnished rain clouds
not too dark
not too proud
not too white
just bright enough
to see the light
Please Note: The featured image above, is called βFour Birdsβ, by an Australian artist, Patsy Anguburra Lulpunda, at the Aboriginal Art Gallery
Ivor Steven (c) October 2021
Just bright enough to see the light. Wonderful! You should actually get out your paints and do this! π Lovely poem!
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Thank you Sam β¦ yes we are birds of a feather π¦ππ
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We need more, diversity in this world, otherwise, imagine, how bored we will get, if there are, no variations of different, species…
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Yes .. but diversity doesnβt seem to work for the human bigots
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A great poem, Ivor: if only we could all see the light π
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Thank you Ingrid β¦ the world would be a brighter place ..ππ
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Wonderful post, Ivor! A touch of whimsey and humor and a very meaningful message. β€ All the best!
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Thank you Cheryl πππ¦
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Not too white
Not too proud
Just bright enough
To see the light.
Love this poem.
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Thank you Sadje πππ¦π¦π
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β€οΈ
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I am intrigued by, and grateful for, the differences.
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So am I .. but the bigots of our world donβt like different feathers π¦ππ
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So true. Fortunately….I think there are less bigots….I have seen people grow. And I think it will keep happening!!!!
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I think you are right Colleen ..
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This is great!
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Thank you for prompting me ππ
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Happy when that happens
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A timeless classic, Ivor! π
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Thanks Punam πππππ¦
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Such a wonderful, powerful trio…photo, poem, and music/vid…for any day, but especially today!
All of the different “birds” make life more beautiful, interesting, enjoyable…we can learn so much from each other! Oh, I wish that everyone could see the light! I’ve always most enjoyed spending time with people whose (or who’s) feathers are different than mine. π
(((HUGS))) π
PATS and RUBS for Sir Frankie!
π π π§ π π¦ π€ π€ π€ π₯π€ π¦ π€ π¦ π π¦ π π¦π πβοΈ π¦ π π¦ π₯³ π¦’ π π¦©
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Thank you dear Carolyn .. this old poem is still very much a favourite of mine ππππ
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this post resonates so deeply Ivor .. your poem a reflection of the Minks ‘melting pot’ which is a fav, Xavier is a hunky hero but that footage … those feathered friends took us around the world and those few dolphin shots! So uplifting I’m bookmarking this for further viewing. And that artwork is another memorable fav … all in one post, wow, thanks my kind friend π
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My pleasure Kate .. and this post is a big favourite of mine too πππππ
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truely gifted!
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This is such a lovely, lighthearted yet deeply meaningful poem!!
not too dark
not too proud
not too white
just bright enough
to see the light
I love these concluding lines.
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what a wonderful whimsical poem dear Ivor!β£οΈ
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What types of bird i that
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They all beautiful
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The birds represent the different skin colourings ..
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This really is great Ivor. That ending is ππ
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A fine melting pot. Ivor.
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The human race just doesn’t get it! I love this poem, Ivor!
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Thank you Eugenia .. yes a whimsical but poignant poem
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What a great poem, Ivor. π
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Thank you Sue .. ππππ¦
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Great piece Ivor..!β¨β¨
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