The Tale of an Eagle (A Poem by Martie Coetser)
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The woman who lived in the house up the hill
enjoyed views of vast open plains ending
in distant horizons where clouds are flaming
colors engulfing an enormous setting sun.
.
In solitude the woman was free of sadness
in harmony with a murmuring fountain,
rustling winds, singing birds and the
silence of ultimate peace.
.
Then soundless out of the blue sky an eagle
with spread-out wings and grasping claws
landed beside her like a guest of honor
in confidence of his power and strength.
.
“Hallo, beautiful eagle!” said the woman in awe
and the eagle responded with the voice of a man:
“Hallo, beautiful, how do you do?”
With one look he claimed the woman’s heart.
.
“My name is Eros the son of Aphrodite,”
he said before he took off to disappear
in the flames of the golden sun,
leaving the woman breathless with awe.
.
The next evening at sunset the eagle came again
with a twig of periwinkle in his horny beak.
“Hallo Eros, son of Aphrodite,” said the woman
“Hallo, beautiful, how do you do?” said the eagle.
.
The woman ate the purple periwinkle flowers
poisoning her soul with everlasting love
Dancing in the flames of her burning heart
she sang overtures of passionate desires.
.
The eagle’s beauty enthralled her
In pure amazement his eyes
made her dreams and fantasies real -
she became clay in his powerful talons.
.
He ingrained his voice in her mind –
the loveliest of all sounds
daily it kept her warm and shivering
in anticipation of delight and delectation.
.
Then came the day she waited in vain -
breathless with hope she peered the sky
until night extinguished the flaming colors
in the clouds and the fire in her soul.
.
In agony her hands grew into talons
her mouth into a large hooked beak
her arms into feathered wings -
as an eagle she could feel no pain in her heart.
.
“Hallo, beautiful!” called the man in vain
in the house up the hill where a woman
had changed into an eagle now flying
free in the flaming colors of a setting sun.
.
© Martie Coetser (December 2011)
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Outstanding work!
Martie my little sista, first of all congratulations again on reaching the 100 Elusive score. Secondly, you have matured into a fine poet, I am mesmerized by your talent. You are now soaring with the Eagles on high and have found such strength in your flight.
Your love for romance shows in so many of your newest scribes, your wings have spread and the Hawk will be on the prowl to learn from the Eagle the bravest warrior of all birds.
I have often seen the Eagle on my travels. It's ironic that you should also include the video by the Eagles one of my favorite groups of all time, my theme song "Desperado" yup that's the Saddlerider, pegged to a tee. Bravo, I applaud this fantastic scribe. Well done my friend. Huge hugs from me to you.
This is a beautiful and Natural phenomenon Martie.;-))
My Greek mythology is a little rusty, but as I a recall Eros was the winged god of love and sexuality. Interesting that the bald eagle is also monogamous.
The Eagles’ “Desperado” is one of my all-time favorite songs and is the perfect soundtrack for this beautiful, mesmerizing and powerful poem. I love the metaphor and the irony. Up and awesome, Martie.
Congratulations on your 100 Hub Score and this awesome, powerful poem. I really enjoyed it and also liked your choice of the Eagles' "Desperado" for an accompanying song. Well done. Am voting this up across the board except for funny.
Thank you for submitting this. Powerful. And it calls attention to the fact that we all need to do our part to respect animals and the earth A LOT more!!
This is beautiful, touching and romantic. "In solitude the woman was free of sadness" perfectly describes me. I need-must have-that solitude and peace. As the precious eagle lady flies free, she shall come to realize the love of her life would have held her to the ground. Love does that. It is not bad but beautiful. So is flying. This poem is complex and perfect.
You are one of the best story writers on hubpages, you even tell stories in your poem. I loved the symbolism in this poem. Eagle is Eros, eagle is strength, eagle is freedom, wow, so beautiful.
PS: Congratulations on your 100 hubscore.
Great Stuff Martie!
Excellent to see your '100'
Well Done.
Dave. x
Hi, Martie. This was so beautiful poem. Thank you so much for writing this. I love the eagle pictures as well. Rated up and Have a nice weekend!
Prasetio
Loved it, especially its astonishing end.
Martie, Your imagination is soaring and has taken off like anything. You are an independent and self assured lady. Your poem loudly proclaims this. Your female characters are never helpless. I am impressed. Thanks.
With warm wishes,
MAKUSR
TheManWithNoPants – Thanks for your awesome comment. I do believe one has more freedom with words in poetry as in the lyrics of songs, which must be simple but head-on. I’m going to check out your poem asap. Take care.
Nicky Page – Thank you for your much appreciated comment.
saddlerider1 – my big brother, and now my score is falling again.
What a damn frustration; it is such a horrible manipulative tool!
HubPages is for sure a place where we all grow - out of one phase into another into another into another we just keep on growing. You are certainly one of the greatest examples of this growth. Remember how you were in the beginning – good, but so unsure of yourself - and here you are today a giant of a poet who knows the power of your quill.
The eagle is a very important symbol in my life. “An eagle doesn’t catch flies’, is one of my motto’s. One has to live far above his circumstances in order to be truly happy, because life really sucks. There is but no perfect circumstances on this planet.
Thank you so much for your continuous support, Saddle. I just can’t imagine HubPages without you. Lots of hugs going your way - xx@xx
Mentalist acer – I always feel honored when I receive a visit from you. Your comments inspire me, even though I know I will never be as good as you. Thanks and take care :)))
Genna East – I’m so gad to see you again. Long time no seen? Is ‘Desperado’ not a lovely song? I am sure they wrote it especially for me. Thank you so much for your interesting comment. I did not know about the monogamousness of the Bald Eagle. So he falls in the same category as the ostrich and the emoe.
Just for the sake of interest I post this excerpt from Wikipedia –
Eros (meaning ‘intimate love’) was the Greek god of love. His Roman counterpart was Cupid (meaning ‘desire’). Some myths make Eros a primordial god – the fourth to come into existence after Chaos, Gaia (Earth) and Tartarus (the Underworld). In other myths Eros is the son of Aphrodite.
Happyboomernurse – now that 100 lasted for 48 hours.... Lol! Heaven knows what makes it tick. Thank you for your much appreciated votes.
Wow Martie.
Such vivid descriptions about this woman and how she felt after consuming the periwinkle and the transformation to the eagle..
Voted way way up like the lady who got transformed into an eagle and is soaring high to her love!
cclitgirl – The eagle is surely a most respectable creature. For me he is a representative of dignity. Thanks for your comment.
Hyphenbird, my dear friend, surely it is wonderful to be in love with Mr Right; unfortunately he is normally if not always incarcerated by all that is wrong. I prefer not to be in love; the complications are just too exhausting. And really, I will rather die before allowing love to hold me to the ground again. Love entails much more sadness than happiness. But oh, don’t let me discourage those who are still courageously willing to discover the pot of gold under the rainbow. Thanks for your visit – always appreciated.
Vinaya Ghimire – thank you so much for your beautiful compliment. Your insight and rich interpretation of ordinary realities are really impressive. You are born to be a writer. Take care!
David UK – Good to see you in here, and thanks so much for your kindness and continuous support. What will I do without an eagle like you who feeds me jests all the time? Take care!
prasetio30 – my dear friend... long time no seen. And just because Time is not enough AND it flies. Thanks for your visit. I’m looking forward to catch up reading in your corner.
Storytellersrus – Thanks. Coming from you - much appreciated.
makusr – The mere thought that I may find myself one day in a situation where I will be completely helpless, gives me the creeps. Via my characters I rehearse escape routs of all sorts. So of you ever see an eagle sitting in your drive-way....
Thanks, majusr, for your support!
Ruchira – I actually know a myth saying that if you give someone the flowers of the periwinkle to eat, s/he will love you forever. Now I will definitely not eat the flowers, because I know the leaves are toxic.
Thanks for your lovely comment!
That is why s/he loves you forever. They quickly perish. laughing
Hyphen - It really seems to be the only way to obtain never-ending love :))) But oh, with my luck somebody who lives in the seventh heaven is going to read this and disagree with us :)
Oh Martie, What a poetic story teller you are. This is awesome, sad, yet bold and strong. I love the Eacles, a perfect video for this masterpiece. ( I really mean that. ) Send Periwinkle ASAP, I'm half way up the hill....Bravo,
always exploring – you are such a delight! Halfway up the hill – so grateful for the peace, but sometimes missing the excitement of being in love.... Now who do you plan to love forever, Ruby? Please, don’t let it be Slick! Thanks for making me smile :)))
Slick only had eyes for you. HaHa
Always - Hahaha! Did he? I thought he had you in his other eye. Lol! Maybe we must invite him for dinner... Periwinkle a la Ruby for desert??
Beautiful and tender one moment, then haunting and sad the next, Martie. Your imagination has soared as high as the bald eagle you chose to illustrate your lovely poetry as a symbol of freedom.
Do you know why the bald eagle is the emblem of the U.S.?
Because of its longevity, majestic beauty and because at the time it was chosen (in the 1780s) it was believed to exist only in North America.
I must mention that like you, I like to believe that Eros is the son of Aphrodite. How do I know? Because Zeus, her father, told me so in "Interview with Zeus." Which by the way was inspired by one of your recent poetry hubs mentioning the birth of Aphrodite. You are now my muse, m'luv. :)
Dear Martie,
Oh, I loved this... so rich in the symbolism of the chase of true love the eagle to the woman who turns into an eagle in time to fly away from the besotten man and so on... who knows they may just set up a nest (or fly the coop... up in the air at this point...?) Oh, that love is an illusive thing at times, isn't it?
But your writing is the best and keeps me coming back for more... voted UP & ABI! Lotsa hugs, mar!
drbj – I’ve read your interview with Zeus and still suppressing my over-eagerness to organize those gods in proper order in the frame of my mind, and still enjoying the overall thrill you’ve given me, honoring yours truly as your inspiration :))) It was such a nice surprise.
Birthing this poem was quite painful – strophe by strophe. The end came as a surprise to me – one of those that leaves one in awe of their own brain's ability to come forward with a solution never anticipated. Another weirdness: When I read it now, I wonder who was the poet. I or me or a stowaway I’ve never met?
I think I’ve already stressed how much I regard the eagle as a resemblance of strength and dignity. Many a day I find myself in a situation where I have to bite my tongue with the mantra ‘eagles don’t catch flies’.
Thank you so much for your constant support.
Hi Martie, wonderful, powerful writing, I loved it!
What a great poem that just pulled me along with it to the very unfortunate end. How sad that these two "love birds" were so out of sync.
marcoujor – Love is indeed illusive, and worse - if you ever manage to get hold of it, it burst like a soap bubble in your hands. Dear old Paul was so wise when he proclaimed solitude as the better way of living.
I do have another theory about love – that it is not a phenomenon outside of us, but inside the brain where it gets triggered by something/someone. I plan to do a hub on this but have to do some research first. By now I know that all thoughts and ideas of mine were already thought and worded in writing by someone who had lived and died ages ago.
So carpe diem is still the key to happiness. Just grab the day and make the best of it, because it may be the last day you have the privilege to enjoy certain opportunities.
Thank you so much, Maria, for your lovely comment. Calling me the best made me smile, because you are in fact the best. Actually I see HubPages as a carpet of pedestals, and each hubber on top of their own pedestal.
I wish you a pleasant weekend with only peace and joy on the agenda.
Movie Master – I treasure all comments coming from you. Thanks!
homesteadbound – “out of sync”. Now that is exactly the description I was looking for but could not find. One of my ideas with the poem was to insinuate that emotional pain can turn a human into an eagle (who can feel no pain), opposed to the desire to love (and feel) can change an eagle into a human. And yes, the irony of the poem was meant to be unsynchronousness.
Thanks a lot for your insightful comment.
So very beautiful Martie and thank you so much for sharing.
Take care and I wish you a wonderful day.
Eddy.
I came back to read again. This is a story that gains momentum each time you read. I'm in awe...
@@@ Eiddwen – Thanks for coming over for the read.
@@@ always exploring – I really appreciate your visits. Take care!
This was very creative Martie. You have my votes. Love this poem, love it love it. It has me in awe. A job well done. Happy holidays.
I loved this poem, so powerful and yet so romantic.
The Eagles’ “Desperado” is one of my favorite songs
...love your hair Miss M in your new and darling profile picture and yes you can warm my cold hands anytime - and will post this new classic by you to my FACEBOOK page with a direct link back here madly glady proudly and with so much joy because you are truly a writer's writer supreme and look at some of the men here who bow to you in reverence and respect - MAN WITH NO PANTS, SADDLERIDER ....and yours truly, and I wouldn't be truly without .......yours!!!
lake erie time ontario canada 2:28am
...I had to come back and have another look at that picture - call me silly call me shallow but that's one nice picture ..... are you looking back at me? well wait up ... here I am come to grab hold of your warm hand.
lake erie timeless for you
thelyricwriter – Your approval means a lot to me. Thanks!
Rosemay50 – it is always so nice to see you. Your opinion of my writings carries a lot of weight. Thanks!
epigramman – Now you have changed my mood. You always pull my smiles, even while I am low down in the dumps. Re men in my corner – they are really only a handful, as I am a feminist who interact only with men of high caliber... like you :)
Thanks for linking this to your FB-profile, Epi. I feel quite special on there. Kind of like you’re holding my hand :)
A classic tragic tale of love lost vividly painted. Excellent poem
Tom Rubenoff - if you could see me now, you will probably smile because I am totally stunned. To find a comment posted by the best poet in Hubland in my corner, was the very last hope in my dreams. Thank you so much for coming over for a read and, especially, for leaving me such an inspiring comment. I look forward to read more of your poems, for that winner of yours is still hovering on my mind. Thanks again and take care.
Simply gorgeous. Great job of taking a masculine symbol and turning it into a feminine one. This is a poem I can relate to. Well done!!!
interesting poem, Martie and gorgeous photos!
Hi PDX, indeed beautiful photo's. Thanks for coming over for the read. C U soon :)
Thanks Martie! And you're welcome!
TheManWithNoPants Level 7 Commenter 5 months ago
Oh so awesome, and oh so out of my league. That's how it's done my friend. I just publised a very dark one a few days ago. I write songs and this was only my second attempt at poetry. I discussed the difference between song writing and poetry, and I truly admire people like you who can make this happen.
jim