At dVerse Kim is hosting poetics with an invitation to consider animal architecture and write a poem that focusses on a creature building its home.
dVerse Poets – Poetics – Animal Architecture
Photo: a Welcome Swallow’s nest under the aqueduct at Beringbooding Rock near Bonnie Rock, early spring 2008.
“It’s surely summer. for there’s a swallow.” Christina Rossetti
The Owner Builder Like a freelance plasterer the swallows gather at water's edge to gouge the damp, sticky clay a hundred times ten pellets by beak, on the wing, thrust into a tiny aperture, cup as house on the under-hang, nothing slithers here, no caw of raven comes threatening, no one, no thing ever negotiates this plane, no storm or quake can dislodge this palace of mud. Copyright 2023 ©️Paul Vincent Cannon All Rights Reserved ®️
Photo: same place, if you look carefully you will see the owner builder.
parallax 
Amazing 👍🏼
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Nature is amazing!
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It sure is
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The swallow is one of my favourite birds and fantastic builders as your verse depicts Paul ❤️
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Thank you for sharing , yes, one of my faves too 🙂
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Your Owner Builder poem reminded me of the time we had a swallows next in the conservatory of a previous home, Paul. I love the comparison with a freelance plasterer, and the nest as a palace of mud.
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Ah, conservatory, haven’t heard that for a few decades 🙂 loved the one I grew up with in Nottinghamshire. Swallows are fun to watch.
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A palace of mud… they are so skilled.
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They sure – though not everyone seems to appreciate them on their buildings it seems, but I love them.
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Mud does have its uses!
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Especially when it sticks 😉
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😀
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Appreciate your perspective on animal architecture! Wonderful exploration of the concept, great take and good write Paul. Fascinating thing the Swallow.
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I love them, they really are fascinating, thank you very much Rob.
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