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...

Australian Fur Seals

Encounter with a seal in Sydney Harbour

Ocean lover Brett Fenton describes a very special encounter with a seal in the heart of Sydney Harbour
Read more
Eco Adventure Camp Panay Guimaras

Rising Earthkeepers: Youthful Hopes for a Sustainable Planet

The Eco-Adventure Camp empowers young Filipinos to connect with nature, build community, and lead meaningful environmental action.
Read more
Peregrine1 on Bruny Kim Murray

Raptors on Bruny Island

Bruny Island has a splendid array of raptors, from Boobook owls to Peregrine falcons, Hobbys and the magnificent White-Bellied Sea Eagle and Wedge-Tai...
Read more
David marcu Vf UN94c Uy4o unsplash

How far can I cycle in a day?

Suggested times for cycling trails. The suggested times for Mountain Biking and Cycle touring trails listed on Kuno are generally conservative but sho...
Read more

Newsletter

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