Friday 3 May 2013

A robin redbreast in a cage......

                                    .....Puts all Heaven in a rage.
                             A dove house fill'd with doves and pigeons
                                 Shudders Hell thro' all its regions,
                                A dog starv'd at his master's gate
                                   Predicts the ruin of the State.
                                  A horse misus'd upon the road
                                Calls to Heaven for human blood.
                                  Each outcry of the hunted hare
                                 A fiber from the brain does tear.
                                 

But not in this household.

Here is a robin actually nesting in a bird cage, of its own volition.


The bird found its own way into an enclosed workshed and selected the cage, high on a shelf.

It is the ultimate safe spot, free from vermin and predators of any kind; most especially, cats!

What does William Blake know?

                          

12 comments:

  1. Utterly charming.

    I have begun to be a bit of a birder in my old age and this kind of thing is just delightful to see. Many thanks.

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  2. Keats for me; Blake is strident.

    Nice bird!

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  3. Well I think it's a pretty verse. They are pretty creatures. I love the robin in his redoubt. He can come and go as he wishes. I've not read much of Wm. Blake. I just was never inspired to.

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  4. Awww...Richard.

    We had a pair of Indian Bulbuls nesting in our living room chandelier which was on the first floor. Quite safe were there from all predators including us. When their young hatched, they frequently joined us for breakfast gorging from the fruit basket. The same pair followed this routine for several years till we got the idiot box aka television set (yes, our mother forbade the TV in our household till we made the right grades).

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  5. Beautiful! We have barn swallows that next on our porch ceiling fan on the 2nd story. No cats there either, only a few pair of curious human eyes!

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  6. Dear Anonymous,

    But do take a look at John Keats. You could begin with Jane Campion's film BRIGHT STAR, and then some of J.K.'s shorter poems. Do NOT be shy about looking Keats up in the Cliff's Notes / Spark Notes. I know the U-er-than-U position is to sniff at notes, but Spark Notes are like teachers who don't talk too much or smell of coffee...uh, oh, that would be me.

    - Mack in Texas

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  7. to Mack Hall HSG, Thank you so much. I see you around some of my favorite blogs. Thank you and I will do so.

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  8. to Mack Hall HSG, That is a good descriptive word "strident". That's how I found Blake. But I cannot fairly critique because as I said "uninspired" I not he. I read Tracy Chevalier's historical novels(does that make me low brow)? Blake was the figure. I liked the book. Oh the book, Burning Bright. One of the reviewers said, ..the rapturous work of William Blake" Take care.

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  9. Dear Anonymous,

    You read what in your mature judgment is either enlightening or entertaining, or better, both. I do not recognize lowbrow and highbrow as categories. MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING and ASSIGNMENT IN SPACE WITH RIP FOSTER are both good books because they speak well of humans in conflict with their environment and with each other, and urge us to be better. Enjoy the works of Miss Chevalier and let no one sneer!

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  10. And please be merciful to me re the comma I misplaced! :(

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  11. Mack Hall, Thank you again. I did enjoy the T. Chevalier novels. I did find them entertaining and enlightening. I think that and that have always been necessary to my reading. I looked forward to each next Chevalier, but the last. The synopsis left me uninspired. But now that I'm reminded perhaps I'll take a second look. I'll also look at your two recommendation, and I'm revisiting Keats.
    I am merciful and always am grateful to be received with same.
    Thank you Richard for your hospitality.

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