majestic wings
by Elouise
I.
majestic wings
hang in winter air
descend slowly
II.
bird of prey
touches down in old oak tree
folds majestic wings
I can’t decide which haiku I like better, so you’re getting both versions! I wish I had a video of what I saw out my kitchen window this morning. I don’t know what kind of raptor it was, but it was gorgeous. Especially its wings–much like the osprey in the photo above, but probably not an osprey. I watched for a few minutes before it took off. It was surveying our yard and a neighbor’s yard. Looking for breakfast, no doubt.
We had a little ‘heat wave’ today. That means we got up into the high 20s (Fahrenheit). Tomorrow promises a shock to the East Coast, especially in New England. We may wake up here in the Philadelphia area to wind chill in the range of minus zero degrees Fahrenheit. And snow, of course, along with strong winds. So today included a nice walk with D outdoors in the winter sun, and a trip to the grocery store.
Hoping this finds you enjoying the outdoors as much as possible.
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 3 January 2018
Photo found at audubon.org
Telling the Truth 
I get a bit confused with Fahrenheit, is the high 20’s below freezing point, I seem to recall F starts recording at 32° which is the point where water freezes,
if so is the high 20’s 12 ° below freezing, whereas in the system we use Celcius the high 20’s is fairly warm to hot.20°C = 68°F, 29°C= 84+° F.
Minus 20°F = -6.67°C and 29°F = -1.1667°C
I prefer the first 3 lines, Majestic wings ,not as harsh as Bird of prey. True it is a bird of prey, that goes without saying so I think majestic wings descibes this bird coming to rest in an old oak tree much better, almost used the word nicer,
I miss trips to the grocery store; we no longer have them, just supermarkets such impersonal things; and corner stores, long gone all ! 😥
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We’re surrounded with supermarkets, too…though there are also smaller shops protected, I think, by zoning laws.
As for the temperature, 32 degrees F is freezing. So our high 20s is just below freezing. Not slushy, but not so cold that it takes your breath away! Last time I was out I had to wear one of those neck and face warmers. Today I didn’t! 🙂
Thanks for your comment about the two versions. The sight of these magnificent hunters always makes my blood run a little cold. I’ve watched their merciless ways too often. But the truth is, the elegance of the wings caught my attention today. Stunning, how deliberately the raptor folded its wings when it landed. Almost as though it was showing off a bit!
I see you’ve been visiting Scotland! I’ll get to that later this evening, hopefully. 🙂
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12° below freezing and it’s not so cold ❓ ❓ ❓ ❓ the coldest I’ve experienced in the last 60 years is, in Fahrenheit, around 40° – 8 above freezing, and believe me I shiver and turn up the heat.
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Well…you have to see me to believe it. All bundled up in woolies and a down coat, a hat with flaps over my ears, and super warm gloves! When it’s sunny and the wind is calm, like it was today, it’s not bad at all. ☃️🌞
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Wonderful …and I like both too 🙂 Happiest New Year Blessings my friend~
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On New Year’s Day, Diane, Nancy and I drove over to my family in Marysville. On the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I saw hawk after hawk, each sitting about 20 feet up in a tree, waiting. I must have seen a dozen, but each time I said,”Hawk!” Nancy looked too slowly, and Diane said, “To me, they’re all just ‘birds'” – Oy! I am both fascinated by and just a bit afraid of them – those talons, and that beak! Thank you for the two haiku!
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Wow. What an experience. Everything about them is razor sharp and ready for the kill. I’m guessing the PA Turnpike didn’t disappoint them. Awesome sight.
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I’m reading this at 4.00 in the afternoon Saturday. It is 42 C or 107 F. And that is warmish.
I love haws and eagles they are so majestic. I prefer #1 .
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I think you live on another planet! And your preference is duly noted. I’m also wondering….do you know what this is? ☃️
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I didn’t. But I googled it and it is a snowman.. I don’t use emoji – although Brian who is years older than both of us does. I can’t see that I will ever have any use for a snowman.
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In that case, feel free to return it! 🙂
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Oh. It probably melted already….too bad.
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Yes, probably. It’s a very pleasant 66 F at the moment this morning.
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we’ve been cold here too but starting to see improvement, and I love the birds, majestic although lately we have a flock of turkey vultures now living down the street in the trees. I say they’re waiting for me to fall over on my walk so that they may peck my eyes….eeks and yikes ❤
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A flock of them? Yikes indeed! Turkey vultures are soooooo weird. They haunt the highways and fields around here. Definitely Halloween quality birds!
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we wondered if they are migratory and are coming down to escape the cold and roosting there (hopefully temporary) as they are a bit unsettling each morning….like a horror movie (hopefully not like the Birds from Hitchcock though) 🙂
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😲
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