Eccentric Bird Lady
Hope Kilmer would understand what I did to his classic51 total reviews
Comment from LJbutterfly
I began reading this poem before I read that this was a contest entry. When I read, "*I think that I shall never see," In my mind I began to hear the song 'Trees.' When I was in elementary school, I learned that song to sing to my grandfather, a minister. You did an excellent job using that song as the basis of your "Eccentric Bird Lady" poem. I like your creative final word "Kook-atoo," as a fitting name for Winnifred, that is a variation of the name of a real bird. Great job. Best wishes in the contest.
reply by the author on 26-Jul-2022
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I began reading this poem before I read that this was a contest entry. When I read, "*I think that I shall never see," In my mind I began to hear the song 'Trees.' When I was in elementary school, I learned that song to sing to my grandfather, a minister. You did an excellent job using that song as the basis of your "Eccentric Bird Lady" poem. I like your creative final word "Kook-atoo," as a fitting name for Winnifred, that is a variation of the name of a real bird. Great job. Best wishes in the contest.
Comment Written 26-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 26-Jul-2022
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Thank you my friend for catching this right off the bat. I couldn't believe how many people had never heard of this classic poem. It is my favorite poem of all time and did not realize that it was a song too. I must look that up and hear it. Thank you also for knowing that my Kook-atoo was my analogy of the bird the cockatoo. You have made my day with your lovely review and words and I can't thank you enough!
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You are welcome. How are you feeling?
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I am doing a little bit better and just got home from the hospital on Friday after a very scary code blue episode with vitals and blood work.
I felt the prayers deeply and so happy to be back to my favorite place in the world, with you and other friends that I care so much about. Thank you again my beautiful friend.
Comment from K. Lang-Slattery
This poem if fun, beautiful, and uses the lines from Kilmer's poem in an entirely original way. I like it very much! I think the second stanza is my favorite. Good work!
reply by the author on 26-Jul-2022
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This poem if fun, beautiful, and uses the lines from Kilmer's poem in an entirely original way. I like it very much! I think the second stanza is my favorite. Good work!
Comment Written 26-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 26-Jul-2022
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Katie, as always I just love you! I love the fact that you remember this classic and wonderful poem. You wouldn't believe how many people had never heard of "Trees or The Tree" as I once read it. I I think that was what started my love of poetry already in grade school. And also thank you for the lovely review and words, and of course your gracious gift of six stars. I am so very appreciative my friend!
Comment from Pam (respa)
-Great images, Debi.
-Thanks for the notes.
-I like your modified Kilmer poem,
and it made me chuckle at the end..
-Winnifred is quite a character and
you portrayed her very well with
effective imagery and rhyme.
-You chose good lines from the original poem, too.
-A very good concluding verse, and
I enjoyed your silliness!
-You have Winnifred with two n's in
the beginning and one at the end.
-Good luck in the contest!!
reply by the author on 26-Jul-2022
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-Great images, Debi.
-Thanks for the notes.
-I like your modified Kilmer poem,
and it made me chuckle at the end..
-Winnifred is quite a character and
you portrayed her very well with
effective imagery and rhyme.
-You chose good lines from the original poem, too.
-A very good concluding verse, and
I enjoyed your silliness!
-You have Winnifred with two n's in
the beginning and one at the end.
-Good luck in the contest!!
Comment Written 26-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 26-Jul-2022
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Thank you so much Pam first of all for catching the two different spellings of the name. I edited it before coming back here to respond to your kind review and comments. So many people had never heard of this classic poem, but it is my favorite of all time. Thanks for all of the fun and the great comments about this poem. So very much appreciated my dear friend.
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You are very welcome on all counts, Debi. I'm surprised people didn't remember it from high school. I have to admit that I never knew Joyce Kilmer was a man until a short while ago. Who would have thought?!!!
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Lol, Since my mom and sister are both named.Joyce, it always seemed strange that he was male. However my mom being a teacher she wrote poetry and loved Trees too and told me he was male when I was young
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Thanks for sharing, Debi. I was an English teacher, and I still didn't know:)
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Pam, I did not know you were an English teacher. That is so awesome. So far you and Verna Cole are the only two that I know of. English was my favorite class and even took writing and English classes in college.
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Pam, I did not know you were an English teacher. That is so awesome. So far you and Verna Cole are the only two that I know of. English was my favorite class and even took writing and English classes in college.
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Pam, I did not know you were an English teacher. That is so awesome. So far you and Verna Cole are the only two that I know of. English was my favorite class and even took writing and English classes in college.
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I don't broadcast it, but am mentioning it more than I used to. There are a lot of us on the site. Look at some of the profile notes when you are reviewing someone's work, and it might be mentioned. I am glad to hear you pursued some English classes yourself!!
Comment from Carol Hillebrenner
You did a really good job of using "Trees" as your inspiration. In fact, I recognized its rhyme pattern before I knew you were supposed to use another poem as a starting point. Impressive work.
reply by the author on 25-Jul-2022
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You did a really good job of using "Trees" as your inspiration. In fact, I recognized its rhyme pattern before I knew you were supposed to use another poem as a starting point. Impressive work.
Comment Written 25-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 25-Jul-2022
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Carol, first of all, thank you so much for recognizing this wondrous classic right from the start. It seems most haven't heard of it before, which surprised me immensely! It's been my favorite since grade school, but maybe not every one remembers. And also for such lovely comments regarding mine, which I just had fun with. Also thank you so much for the gracious gift of six stars. It is so appreciated my friend
Comment from LateBloomer
Hello SOTU, your backkkkk! D, your poem made me smile and laugh all the way to the very end, and I thank you for that. Winnifred reminds me of "The Bird Lady" from "Home Alone." BTW, there really was a real-life Bird Lady in NYC's Central Park--just sharing. Your poem reads and flows well and has silky rhyming. I especially liked:
She's not much on hygiene care
A nest of robins in her hair
(Good imagery, especially the nest.)
A fun poem. Great photo choices. Please accept my virtual Six. As this is a contest entry, I wish you good luck. M ~ LateBloomer
reply by the author on 25-Jul-2022
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Hello SOTU, your backkkkk! D, your poem made me smile and laugh all the way to the very end, and I thank you for that. Winnifred reminds me of "The Bird Lady" from "Home Alone." BTW, there really was a real-life Bird Lady in NYC's Central Park--just sharing. Your poem reads and flows well and has silky rhyming. I especially liked:
She's not much on hygiene care
A nest of robins in her hair
(Good imagery, especially the nest.)
A fun poem. Great photo choices. Please accept my virtual Six. As this is a contest entry, I wish you good luck. M ~ LateBloomer
Comment Written 25-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 25-Jul-2022
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Hey you, just finished up with a long afternoon of therapy and it went well after a rough weekend, but I'll leave that for later. ...... So were you familiar with the great poem Trees by Joyce Kilmer? I can't believe that people don't seem to recall it. It is a classic in poetry. Anyway, the line of, (a nest of robins in her hair) comes from the original. But thanks for seeing the humor that I was trying to use, since I was trying to stay away from the theme of trees, since that one was already written. It was a fun challenge. Thanks so much my dear ltsotu, for your awesome virtual 6 stars, that means just as much.
I hope I never run into the real one from NYC.
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No. I didn't know Trees by Joyce Kilmer. However, I also didn't quite get the contest rules--another reason why I don't join them. Sis, don't worry about the real Bird Lady. She is probably dead by now, but she was harmless. She took up and entire bench at the entrance to the park. Birds, mostly pigeons, sat on her head, arms, legs, everywhere. She would cover herself with cubes of bread. Sorry that I never thought to take a picture of her, but that probably would have upset her and be considered an invasion of privacy. NYC is One crazy town, then and now. Glad to see that your poems are just rolling off the press.
Xo. M ~ LateBloomer
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I think I am going to ask Jan if we can also copy the original to notes so its easier to understand.
Comment from Jannypan (Jan)
Haha, eccentric, for sure. You did a great job with your contest
entry, Debi. I enjoyed reading it. Even if you hadn't included any
pictures, I could visualize this bird lady. Your words read smooth
with good rhymes and great imagery. This was a fun poem to read.
I don't know the original. However, that doesn't diminish your well-
crafted entry.
Best wishes in the contest, Jan
reply by the author on 25-Jul-2022
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Haha, eccentric, for sure. You did a great job with your contest
entry, Debi. I enjoyed reading it. Even if you hadn't included any
pictures, I could visualize this bird lady. Your words read smooth
with good rhymes and great imagery. This was a fun poem to read.
I don't know the original. However, that doesn't diminish your well-
crafted entry.
Best wishes in the contest, Jan
Comment Written 25-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 25-Jul-2022
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Thanks so much Jan. I did add the poem and added an asterisk by each line on the original and mine. Maybe it will make more sense to everyone who had never heard of this classic. Thanks for doing the contest and the help my friend.
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🦩🦜🐧🐦🦤
Comment from lyenochka
Lol. I would think the "kookatoo" should also eat some worms and bugs for extra protein. I was sure that your poem was actually describing a tree with "leafy arms" and kelp to describe the moss growing in the "hair." Great job using parts of Joyce Kilmer's poem! Best wishes in the contest!
reply by the author on 25-Jul-2022
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Lol. I would think the "kookatoo" should also eat some worms and bugs for extra protein. I was sure that your poem was actually describing a tree with "leafy arms" and kelp to describe the moss growing in the "hair." Great job using parts of Joyce Kilmer's poem! Best wishes in the contest!
Comment Written 25-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 25-Jul-2022
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Thanks Helen, but I was actually trying to stay away from the theme of the trees and go with a little humor to show a crazy woman. That's why at the end, I called her a kook-atoo instead of a cockatoo bird. I need to write w humor every few poems, as it keeps things light and joyful. Thank you for your very kind words & review my friend!
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Glad you are having fun with the humor. Laughter is healing. 💖
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Well, I enjoyed reading this writing prompt entry. I have no clue about poetic form or who Kilmer is, but in my humble opinion this poem was fun to read so it's good. I am NOT a poet.
reply by the author on 26-Jul-2022
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Well, I enjoyed reading this writing prompt entry. I have no clue about poetic form or who Kilmer is, but in my humble opinion this poem was fun to read so it's good. I am NOT a poet.
Comment Written 25-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 26-Jul-2022
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Thanks so much Barb as I now put the original in authors notes. I also
put an * where I used the lines. Hopefully for those that didn't know the Poem. Thanks so much for your lovey review and comments my dear friend
Comment from Sally Law
This is outrageous fun and so descriptive of the bird lady. I'm awed by your ability to rhyme, Debi. For whatever reason, I gravitate towards free verse. I see you gifting has been with you for a long tIme.
Thank you for sharing this, and my verse best for the contest!
Love and blessings,
Sal XOs
reply by the author on 26-Jul-2022
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This is outrageous fun and so descriptive of the bird lady. I'm awed by your ability to rhyme, Debi. For whatever reason, I gravitate towards free verse. I see you gifting has been with you for a long tIme.
Thank you for sharing this, and my verse best for the contest!
Love and blessings,
Sal XOs
Comment Written 25-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 26-Jul-2022
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Thanks so much Sally! You are so much fun to be around and that way my intent was a success, and that it was fun. As far as rhyming, I feel comfortable with it. It's nice that we all have special gifts from God, because it may be boring if we all did the same thing. Yet a challenge is always welcomed. Thanks so much my friend!
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You are very welcome! My pleasure as always,
Sal XOs
Comment from patricia dillon
I remember this poem as a child too. My father used to quote it. I had fun picking out the lines from the original poem. I think you improvised very well.
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reply by the author on 26-Jul-2022
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I remember this poem as a child too. My father used to quote it. I had fun picking out the lines from the original poem. I think you improvised very well.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 25-Jul-2022
reply by the author on 26-Jul-2022
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Patricia, it was so nice that you recognized the real poem, because so many never heard of it before. It was my favorite tho, but wanted to stay away from the tree theme, so had to make a crazy woman out of her. It was fun and so are you. Thank you so much for your lovely review and words!
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You're welcome
