Flimsy Stunners.
There it hangs weightless and waiting \'til breeze
lifts it\'s gossamer frame
and silently floats its wonder away.
~
~
What marvel of strong fragility that tho\' covered
with patches of under-down
is intelligently patterned for rigidity.
~
~
Feather-perfection can when attached raise aloft
any hollow bird-bones when
hovering to heights on outstretched wings.
~
~
Feather-borne fliers skim the sky,
drift on thermals,
quiver in ether,
remain afloat,
dive when keened by fiercest winds,
feel warm throughout chilliest nights
and successfully brood eggs to chicks
by sitting and fluffing downy pinions.
~
~
Extra-smooth tuftedness surrounding dense matter
gives thistledown lightness
of hooked strength to feathermass usefully cladding
birdlife from dove to predator.
~
~
Awed praise for this sight of ineffable beauty within
such flimsy stunners as this.
~