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.

**********************

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.

********************** 

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:

Tara R. said...

Hummingbirds are fascinating creatures.

Dobson said...

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.

Gina said...

Extremely! And peaceful, to me.

Gina said...

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.

Lance said...

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.

Gina said...

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!)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful picture. Nice image.

Anonymous said...

Loved rust coined weight. Beautiful flow here.

Trifecta said...

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

Anonymous said...

delicious descriptors!

brudberg said...

Love sip a rose like wine

Valerie Boersma said...

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

Gina said...

Thanks, joe!

Gina said...

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!

Kir said...

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.

Gina said...

Oh, you are sooooo nice! Thanks!

Gina said...

Thanks!

Gina said...

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

Gina said...

Coming from you, Valerie, I love it!

Gina said...

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

To you too! I miss you.

Ivy said...

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

kymm said...

Love rust coined weight. Beautiful, Gina.

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

About Last Weekend said...

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

Unknown said...

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

Gina said...

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

Gina said...

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.

Gina said...

The are so beautiful and unique!

Gina said...

Thanks so much, Kelly.

Thomas Charles MacInnes said...

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.

Anonymous said...

This is so delightful. The imagery is so palpable.

Anonymous said...

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

Anonymous said...

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

Gina said...

You are too kind, Tom!!!

Gina said...

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

Gina said...

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!

Gina said...

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...

Anonymous said...

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

Gina said...

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.

Joe said...

Their flight mesmerizes me.

Unknown said...

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 :)

OldDogNewTits said...

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

sun said...

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. ☺

TMWHickman said...

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!

Anonymous said...

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

Gina said...

How do they do that ;-)?

Gina said...

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.

Gina said...

Got it!

Gina said...

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...

Gina said...

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!

Gina said...

Thank, LBG!

Gina said...

Well, thanks Renada!

Unknown said...

Beautiful work

Anonymous said...

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!

Gina said...

Thank you!

Gina said...

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.

Draug said...

This is a lovely portrait of nature.