By Joyce Jacobo
[Author’s Note: Another experiment. ^_^]
I wanted to send a girl character who had
long gingery hair
oversized glasses
named Alicia
on a chase sequence
up to the very
top of
a lofty
clocktower
to ring its
magical bells
while pursued
by an enormous version
of a hummingbird—
Except the lockdown kept me
unable to venture too far
from my humble home to visit
any clocktowers in person and…
besides…
I could only catch
brief glances
of any hummingbirds
as they darted past
my bedroom window…
So…
I watched videos of tours within several clocktowers
from around the world
and chose to have Alicia scale
a narrow
wooden
staircase
which spiraled
upwards
just like
the one found
beneath
Big Ben
in London
then added in windows
through which she could glimpse
the late-night city that surrounded her
aglow with lights from
various businesses
and homes
but also
the hummingbird…
I searched online for lists of hummingbirds
and came across one from Peru
known as the “Marvellous Spatuletail”
with feathers of white
green
and bronze
completed by a gorget
(a colored patch at the throat)
of turquoise
further distinguished
by two peacock-like tail feathers
which each twisted
outwards
to the right or left
whose wings buzzed
like book pages flipped
in high-speed succession
(as I had heard
on a recording
shared through a website
related to wildlife conservation)
as this gigantic bird moved
with aerodynamic jerks
(shown on a wildlife documentary)
through the air
from one window
of the clocktower
to the next
and stuck a thin
hard beak
that broke the glass
just seconds
after Alicia
hurried past
Up Alicia ran
faster and faster
her breath came
in quick pants
and her boots thudded
on each step
Sometimes she almost stumbled
when the handrail
became like a companion
able to guide her along
until
she reached the belfry
(the name of which I had found
in a book diagram of
clocktower parts)
there to find three large silver bells
held by yokes
which had engraved
on the largest part
of their bodies
(called the “waist”)
the words “A Sweet Bell
of Healing”
The giant hummingbird appeared
just beyond the opaque clockface
ominous and dark
as Alicia slipped a hand
into the pocket
of her pants
and pulled out a golden watch
which matched
the clocktower—
12:00.
Gears turned and the yokes swung
their bells similar
to children
on swings
the clappers
those miniature hammers
struck the inside rims
of the bells
and the deep gongs
echoed in
soundwaves
that caused the hummingbird
to shudder
in violent waves
but then
to shrink
smaller
and
smaller
Her mission fulfilled
Alicia collapsed
upon the floor
as the sounds of the bells
faded—
However she would awaken
at dawn
to the sight of a tiny hummingbird
so grateful for the rescue
he would follow Alicia
as a companion
on her journey
wherever she might
venture next
Love it ,Joyce. I had a visit from a hummingbird just today. Wonderful .💕
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Awwwww, that’s a sweet coincidence. ^_^
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It sure was.💕
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Awwww. ^_^
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A lovely poem/story
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Thank you so much!
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You’re welcome
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^_^
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I really love this. Well done!
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Thank you so much. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
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