They never greatly flew. Did they wish to?

They never greatly flew. Did they wish to?

Here is a wonderful poem from John Berryman. It is redolent of November, and the Americans’ Thanksgiving Day holiday on the 24th November.

I feel sorry for all the turkeys raised merely to be slaughtered to stuff fat Americans, as they overeat notoriously on that holiday. I suppose that Brits do the same with their Christmas turkeys. Poor turkeys.

The wild turkey is a noble bird and very sagacious. It was greatly admired by the founding fathers of the USA. Just look at what we have done to the mass-bred turkey!


Dream Song 385
John Berryman

My daughter’s heavier. Light leaves are flying.
Everywhere in enormous numbers turkeys will be dying and other birds, all their wings.
They never greatly flew. Did they wish to?

I should know. Off away somewhere once I knew
such things.

Or good Ralph Hodgson back then did, or does.
The man is dead whom Eliot praised. My praise
follows and flows too late.
Fall is grievy, brisk. Tears behind the eyes

almost fall. Fall comes to us as a prize to rouse us toward our fate.

My house is made of wood and it’s made well,
unlike us. My house is older than Henry;
that’s fairly old.
If there were a middle ground between things and the soul or if the sky resembled more the sea,
I wouldn’t have to scold.
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbspmy heavy daughter.

{This poem is in copyright and used under the fair use doctrine. The layout of this poem is deliberate.}

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They never greatly flew. Did they wish to?

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Nov 30, 2011
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You are right
by: Ruth

You are right Grahame, of all species we suffer the most as we have the knowledge of how cruel this world and Nature really are.
Animals, birds and fish accept everything by instinct. They don’t worry about the future like we do, they live for the day.
Do people who hurt and kill animals (or other people come to that too) live for the day ?
We are all basically animals but I sometimes wonder if there are two human species.
Michael wrote a very interesting article about connected and disconnected people, a while ago, I must try to find the link for you.
But I believe for all animals live for the day, they do know death is final, is that by instinct too do you think ?
This whole world and whether God exists totally confuses me right now and I don’t feel as if I belong here any more.
Thinking too deeply is very frightening !

Kattaddorra signature Ruth


Nov 30, 2011
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for RUTH

by: Grahame

Ruth, I agree your comments replying to mine about turkeys.

Were I a Jew, which people have the priviledge of arguing with God, I should have some things to say to Hizzoner on behalf of animals. I think His design faulty. Why is nature red in tooth and claw? Why does every animal eat most every other, and the animals experience great pain and terror into the bargain? Couldn’t he have done better?

And to create us with sentience, to know of and suffer over these things. Is that cynical, I ask you!

The former poet laureate of the USA, Archibald MacLeish, wrote a really fine play based upon the biblical Book Of Job. He has one of Job’s tempters sing a wicked little ditty to suffering Job:

If God is God,
He is not good.
If God is good, He is not God.
Take the even, take the odd.


Nov 25, 2011
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Touching and sad
by: Ruth

A very touching article and poem and I feel as you do about the fate of all those beautiful turkeys born doomed to be eaten by people celebrating !
Our house is not one of the Brits households who celebrate Christmas by eating flesh of any kind. We have a wonderful dinner of roast potatoes, roast mushrooms and vegetables and all the trimmings.
I find it terribly sad that so many animals and birds and fish are born only to die for food for people when there is plenty to eat on this earth without taking other living creatures lives

Kattaddorra signature Ruth


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