White-Bellied Sea Eagle

White-Bellied Sea Eagle is a beautiful piece of spoken poetry from Australia's great environmental poet, writer and thinker, Pete Hay.

 

White-Bellied Sea Eagle. By Pete Hay

I know the river. 

I know the tree carved fish-hearted river as I know my arcing rope barked heights. 

If I choose I can drop like swift brain, rake the river, strike it, tear and know you that it will be so.

But I will so choose. 

I know air and plains of water. 

I am irresistible.

The river of my eye true running. 

I fill the air and my white shadow holds the wind. 

Just this is not known why the sea froth of my breast excites such low pointed babble. 

It is white. 

Yes, noon sun white, the river colour of death.

This also is not known.

All flee from my white shadow.

So why does a creature, this man thing, trapped in its one plane, why does it conjure such willing alarm? 

Only this hint. That it holds a rampant power abade. 

Holds even me at its capricious whim.

Poetry with Pete: White-Bellied Sea Eagle
I know the river. I know the tree carved fish-hearted river as I know my arcing rope barked heights.
Pete Hay
Pete Hay
Pete Hay is a Tasmanian writer, scholar, writer and one of Australia's most important thinkers on...


Share

Help us to build a platform to connect people with planet earth!

Become a supporter

You might like...

Shazib ali Garam Chasma unsplash

Chitral in Winter

Beautiful documentary of Chitral in winter. Chitral is an exquisitely beautiful region situated at the intersection between the mountain ranges of the...
Read more
Red necked Stint 34085

The amazing migration

Dr Eric Woehler says he doesn’t need to exaggerate what these tiny migratory bird species can do - “I can simply tell people the bird that sits in the...
Read more
Edward O Wilson

The future of Life on Earth

Biologist, writer and one of the world's great thinkers, Edward O Wilson, explores and makes a compelling case for the future of Life on Earth, in thi...
Read more
Kuno Home Screen

Kuno Beta

Kuno is the nature platform, for life on Earth, and is in the early stages of development. By joining our beta community, you can get a sneak preview ...
Read more

Newsletter

Sign up to keep in touch with articles, updates, events or news from Kuno, your platform for nature