Night Singing

During April and May I was privileged to be involved in three online workshops celebrating the creatures of the dunes through creative writing. In the first of these, Project Officer Andrew, led us into the world of the natterjack toad; the more we learned the more our hearts filled with toad-love! We responded by writing odes, which are poems of praise and appreciation.  Here are some beautiful examples from participants Rosie and Eileen . . . 

An Eyeful of Toadiness by Rosie Woods

Stoic Toad, miniature in size

https://www.dw.com/en/bringing-britains-endangered-
wildlife-back-from-the-brink/a-47854943

But mighty in impact.

Your bulging eyes are home

To many secrets.

Secrets of the sands,

Of tiny creatures,

Colours blending with the earth

And a song that shatters all stillness.

 (You are a male, I presume?)

 Meeting you is awesome

So close and yet so far.

What patience it takes

To make your profile.

I know so little, and am hungry

For so much more.

 

Each time I hear or see your presence,

In sandy dune,

Rambling run,

Climate chosen burrow,

Your very own Toad Hall,

I will remember

That eye, that song,

That shambling but effective gait

And one day I will visit, 

And revere you at home.

 

Eyes  by Rosie Woods

Dreaming dreams

Through those great, wide eyes, 

I wonder what the world looks like

From your particular perspective.

How big are you, I wonder

As you dart from place to place.

Tiny to us, yet huge to sand flies.

Cute in our sight, danger in theirs.

Natterjack Eye - Alex Hyde
https://naturebftb.co.uk/artwork/natterjack-eye-alex-hyde/

 

Those great eyes

Gleam and glisten

Calling me forth

From dark wondering.

Beautiful they are

And mystic too,

Hiding sights this human cannot see.

Eyes powerful, summoning.

To drown in their depths would be bliss.

But not if I were sand fly!