after the storm

after the storm
Welcome autumn!

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

nevermore...

The Raven

                                      b Edgar Allan Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—
    While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
“’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door—
            Only this and nothing more.” 
 
(yes, I know he isn't a raven, perhaps a thrasher?)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
When I was in middle school, we were required to memorize and recite a stanza from a favorite poem.  I really don't remember this as a favorite poem.  Maybe it was October?  Of course, if you read this whole poem, you will know that it took place in December.  We do love Edgar Allan Poe in October. 
 
I haven't decorated for Halloween yet.  I have been enjoying fall too much but there is always a nod to Edgar in my decorating and I will share it soon.  Meanwhile, the reason for all of this, is a visitor who doesn't want to leave.  He is continually "rapping, rapping, tapping" on my window.  He isn't a raven but I am guessing they would be very good friends.  I also think he is some sort of thrasher who loves himself very much.  I do love all the nature that surrounds our home but this guy seems to know just when to start to make sure that he startles me.
 

Then he started to seem to get really mad when there was no response to his pecking.  It got louder, stronger and I worried about my windows surviving.  I would shoo him away. I had to get right to the window and tap on it myself before he would move.  He had no problem with me taking these pictures through the windows. 
I closed the blinds, I opened the blinds, I raised the blinds, nothing seemed to work.  I guess I channeled my inner Sheldon (Big Bang Theory) and decided that maybe putting a framed photograph of my son (no offense, M, it was handy because I am moving things around) facing out through the window might startle him.  Just like Sheldon and his blue jay, it didn't work.  When I heard him tapping, he couldn't see me so I just rocked the picture back and forth, hoping it would be more intimidating.  

So far, no tapping. 


    Hope you are enjoying October!  It has been beautiful here today.

Added 2 hours later:  He's back.  Maybe I should frame a picture of Poe instead?  Any ideas how to discourage him?

4 comments:

terriporter said...

Well, he's mighty persistent isn't he? No ideas on how to discourage him. You would think, being a bird, he would be afraid enough of humans, or pictures of humans, that he would leave, but I guess not. Not sure what kind of bird he is either. Yesterday was a wonderful respite from the hot days of summer -- in the 60s! Not ready for winter just yet.

Reclaimed wood dining tables said...

Wonderful article and photos! Thanks for sharing.

S H Elliott said...

I remember teaching Poe to my high school English students...and the Raven was always such fun! I once had a couple of woodpeckers that annoyed me when we lived in a wood house in the woods. They would insist pecking away at my house! Funny....but not after seeing their damage.
Sheila

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