Redheaded Pronoun Predicament
This follows on from my last post which was prompted by my first sighting of a Woodpecker here at The House of Light.
But on 31st October 2017 at Wild Poplars - a static caravan residing in the winter quarters of a circus - a redheaded green woodpecker graced the lawn. I automatically found myself referring to Woodpecker as 'he'... That 'he' was a 'he'? No idea...
But the pronoun usage was noticed, and gave rise to the poetical below. I saw, not for the first time, that pronouns are largely overrated or unhelpful. And in many ways, we are all 'they' - always embodying a dash or bucketful of yin ('feminine') or yang ('masculine'). Being androgynous seems to me to be an innate part of being human.
Here, the pronoun you use is irrelevant. Your gender? Your affair. Tell me your name and let's verb rather than pronoun...
As for Woodpecker? Clearly a 'they' that day although if I knew how to sex a Woodpecker (not high on my 'to-do' list) I would have referred to him or her accordingly!
REDHEADED THEY
I’m stopped mid-sentence
'he's such a fine woodpeck… '
my sexist pigeon-holing is self-seen
my lawn graced by two in one, both King and Queen!
They’s the brightest scarlet-headed bird
I’ve had the honour to admire
they stokes my poet’s fire
they’s green suited black sword thrusting
wise and wary sovereign
conquering audacity to mark their flight
in waves (that if you watch them closely) write!
They seldom sound their own words
their drumming tells the day
’I’m not like other birds’
they give the gateposts voice
the tree trunks get to speak
they remind me who I am is
noble and unique.
#woodpecker #pronouns #assumptions