Always I Notice

Always I Notice, by Porter Barnes

My eye gets caught again
The Cape Petrel performs a perfect dive
It swoops away, leaving me in awe
A second bird mirrors the first
It repeats again and again and always, I notice

But the petrels are far from alone
Tiny silver birds flicker around the waves
Beautiful dancing little fairies
The prion, found only in these waters
Almost invisible, but still always, I notice

Sila's escort is made not only of tiny birds
Like half-a-dozen chivalrous knights,
Six black-browed Albatrosses soar at eye level,
Spicing up the long passage hours
Though now I know I'm not alone–always, I notice

Royalty of the ocean air visits the common escort,
Soaring high like a king of kings–
The Wandering Albatross circles the boat for hours
Everyone's eye gets caught a thousand times
And again, since the birds will catch my eye for always, I notice

I originally wrote this poem during the Tierra del Fuego to the Falklands passage. We continued to see birds through South Georgia and even now at thirty-nine degrees latitude. Although it was originally inspired a long time ago, the inspiration has remained with us. At times we have had nearly three dozen birds around the boat.

I think the most memorable moment was when three Wandering Albatrosses, the largest bird I have seen at close range, flew together almost within touching range of each other and the boat. I also love to watch the playful flight of small birds within feet of the boat. It seemed that everyone else didn't appreciate the seeming frivolity in the tiny Storm Petrel's flight and yet were entranced by the smooth solemn flight of a huge Wandering Albatross. That is not to say that the Wandering Albatross did not draw my gaze, in fact it is, without a doubt, my favorite bird. Even so, there is a great pleasure derived in watching any seabird fly over the open ocean. –Porter