Monday, January 13, 2014

Trifextra: Hummingbird Lust


This is Trifecta’s cheeky challenge for this week. They’re asking for a 33-word response to the following snippet:

The first time I saw. . .

Of course there’s a catch: all of our 33 words must be one syllable each. They are giving us 5 words so that’s 33 from us, for a grand total of 38 words.

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rthu.com

The first time I saw…

the bird who hummed

it swept me off with brisk wing beats

i was mad

for its

jewel toned throat,

rust coined weight,

and long limbed nib

that sipped a rose like wine.

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I’m obsessed with hummingbirds and can watch them flit and drink for hours. The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird is indigenous to the state of Indiana (and Illinois for that matter) where my prettiest flowers grow. Like Cardinals, the male is more beautiful and colorful than the female. I'll give them that...

56 comments:

  1. Hummingbirds are fascinating creatures.

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  2. I love to watch hummingbirds also. We do not try to attract them, for no reason than we get caught up with everything else. Perhaps this year. I did have some Four o'clocks last year and hoped they would draw them, but if so i did not see them.

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    1. They love this group of Hosta that flowers in July right outside my front window so I can watch them from the inside or out. Last year we put out a feeder but, to my knowledge, they never partook. We did see where they nest and it's in a tree next door. I'm lucky to see them just about everyday in July and August.

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  3. my 10-tear-old is scared of birds. I find them fascinating. I used to watch hummingbirds with my grandfather when we would go fishing together. This is more than 38 words, I believe.

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    1. I don't find all birds fascinating but definitely Hummingbirds and Cardinals. Fishing and grandfathers would be the perfect time to see them. You scared me, so I put it back into a Word Doc and it said 38 and I hand counted it too. But thanks (in the event that it was more. Phew!)

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  4. Beautiful picture. Nice image.

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  5. Loved rust coined weight. Beautiful flow here.

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    1. I wanted to use copper coin like a penny but copper is two syllables! Hummingbirds weigh, supposedly, about the same as a penny. Thanks, melstepp!

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  6. Oh Gina, your second line swept me off my reading beat (and seat!). This is gorgeous. Thanks for linking up!

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  7. delicious descriptors!

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  8. Replies
    1. I like to sip wine too! Thanks for your comment(s), Bjorn!

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  9. "Sipped a rose like wine." Swoon! This whole piece was breathtaking, Gina!

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  10. you could make anyone love those birds, and they are so intriguing and interesting...
    their beating hearts, their nibs sipping roses and their wings keeping them alight..beautiful creatures indeed.

    HAPPY NEW YEAR my friend.

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    1. They mesmerize me! Yes, their hearts beat 250/second at rest and forget the flutter of flight!

      To you too! I miss you.

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  11. This is gorgeous! You make me want to be right there with you soaking in the sounds, the beauty.

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    1. Thanks so much, ivy! I'd love to have you sitting with me quietly watching.

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  12. Love rust coined weight. Beautiful, Gina.

    I have a friend who video tapes his hummingbird garden. There aren't any by me.

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    1. A penny's weight is about the same, I've read. I'm sorry you can't see them firsthand. We seem to be having more and more (or maybe it's the same quick one. Thanks, kymm.

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  13. I love that love rust too, reddish brown tarnished but beautiful

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  14. Brisk wing beats - that's perfect
    and sipped like wine.
    Excellent.

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  15. That was gorgeous writing, Gina! Everything from the wing beats, to the throat description to sipping the nectar was all spot-on! Beautiful homage to those tiny, perfect friends of yours.

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  16. This is so delightful. The imagery is so palpable.

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    1. I love the word palpable! Thank you for your delightful comment!!!

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  17. Very nice, Gina! Fantastic description laced with just enough sensuality to make it more than just pretty. Great job.

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    1. Wow! I wasn't even thinking in terms of sensuality. Didn't cross your mind but I love that you think so. You've made my morning, Christine!

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  18. Sipped a rose like wine.....How magical the words can get ? I LOVE this.....Humming birds are just so cute :)

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    1. Maybe I think everything sips like wine ;-) Words are fantastic. And thank you for your wonderful comment. I could watch them all day long if they'd just stay put...

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  19. I love hummingbirds, too. I have yet to get a decent photo of one, as they move much faster than my mind works!

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    1. They are quick little buggers! I never try because then'd miss seeing them flutter as I fumbled for my camera. And I hate missing things.

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  20. Both my mother and my brother-in-law are also obsessed. And I'll admit ... they are unique, little creatures but, like the birds themselves, I usually don't stand still long enough to spot and appreciate one.

    So thanks for making me stop and get a good look this time, Gina :)

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    1. I can sit still for extended periods of time so I catch them (but my whole family looks and points them out too). You're welcome, Michele. Thanks for stopping by.

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  21. Michele Robert Poche is me, by the way. I meant to comment from this account but my brain prevented it. :)

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  22. this is so true...how they can drink and drink and drink...i also love watching the hummingbirds. thanks for the hope of spring soon. ☺

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    1. They remind me of summer as I usually see them only in July/August. Or maybe that's just when I'm looking. Or sitting still enough...

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  23. We have hummingbirds all over the place down here, so I try to put food out for them when the flowers aren't blooming. They are gorgeous!

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    1. I put out one feeder last year but his year I'm putting out several and I don't care if the yard looks cheesy or not!

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  24. "Sipped a rose like wine" - gorgeous simile. Nicely done. :)

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  25. I loved this Gina! So glad I read it before writing mine, it inspired me to reach for more complex 1 syllable words. And your entry took my breath away. Beautiful!

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    1. Momo, thank you for the wonderful compliments! At first, it seemed so simple (one syllable words) but making it interesting and more luscious proved challenging. Happy to have helped in a small way.

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  26. This is a lovely portrait of nature.

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