Voo-ra-coo?

In a Magnolia Grandifolia
the Collared Doves are mating.
He moans - his ardour un-abating,
Voo-ra-coo? Voo-ra-coo? Voo-ra-coo?

But she, perched a little lowlier,
is infinitely skittish;
coy, innately British.
You can almost hear her cooing,
'Cease this silly, show-off wooing!'
Voo-ra-coo! Voo-ra-coo! Voo-ra-coo!

With feathers all a-fluff,
she huffs, 'That's truly quite enough!'
To a higher branch she flutters.
Voo-ra-coo! Voo-ra-coo! Voo-ra-coo!

Unabashed by her rebuff,
or those dismissive, 'Coos! ' she utters,
he sulks himself into a downy puff.
Yet wistfully, he sotto voche, mutterers,

Voo-ra-coo?? Voo-ra-coo?? Voo-ra-coo??

Hi Leonora;
yes, this is the turtledoves (ring-necked doves) mating season in my climate--again. It's funny how we humans hear those animal sounds. I hear the turtledoves' (collared doves') call as a soft "coo-coo-rooh." As a matter of fact, one of my own poems begins:
"I hear the sweetest Coo-coo-rooo,/the calling of a turtledove/" However, "Voo-ra-coo?" works even better for me. V2/L1, (But she, perched a little lowlier,) stands there by itself, it doesn't seem to rhyme with anything? Intentionally or is it my misread? Regardless, yours is a very cute poem. I like the "sot·to vo·ce or sòttō vṓchee" muttering voice, lol. Take care,
Jerry

Hello Leonora,
I now live in a country setting, where I have 7 fruit trees in the back yard. This location has again given me the opportunity to feed the birds over winter, and I had some 12 different species come and go at the feeders. There is a resident dove flock in this locality, and one pair has been regulars at the feed stations. One is more gray in color, while the mate is tan.
These 2 characters were seen mating in the apple tree recently (something I've never done, I'll confess). I believe they will be nesting nearby in the big pine, from where the cooing often comes.

As to the cooing, it seems yours have a British accent, not surprisingly.

Merlin

Hello Leo, I thoroughly enjoyed the wooing, cooing and huffy rebuffs of a pair of doves in love! Especially the last stanza which characterizes the two as if a lifelong pair on a spring fling. I'm inspired to keep an eye out for my mourning doves. They fold in together like an old pair of velvet grey gloves. Thank you for the images! Frances

Unabashed by her rebuff,
or those dismissive, 'Coos! ' she utters,
he sulks himself into a downy puff.
Yet wistfully, he sotto voche, mutterers


P.S. It may be if a certain wizard known as Merlin has flown in from far off hills to alight on your poem you will have attracted a pair that hasn't flocked together in some time. If so, then thank you for that as well! Frances

Wiz Bang? 'tis true if it's you. F

Hi Leo,
Allow me to say voo-ra-coo to our good friend Fran, with whom, along with Sue, we did some remarkable writing. Tis good to see old friends again.

Merlin

Good morning Jerry.
Thank you for reading and commenting on these verses.
I understand that there is some research suggesting that bird's of the same species, but from different countries, have distinct regional avian accents.
My Collared Doves are, of course, French birds, and have the rolling 'rrr' sound which adds much charm to the French accent.
You are absolutely right about, 'but she, perched a little lowlier' Thanks for spotting it.
The tree under which I was sitting when I came up with these verses, was a Magnolia Grandifolia - not a Magnolia Grandiflora. I have edited the poem to remove the free-floating orphan.
Hugs,
Leo

Merlin! It's you! How pleased I am to see you back here. I've been absent from the site for some time.
Thanks for checking out this verse - the first thing I have written for months.
The birds I watched were, in fact, French doves; and as I mentioned to Jerry, they both had strong French accents - and being French, they made a great deal of fuss about l'amour.
I wish you joy in your orchard - may the harvest be bountiful.
Hugs,
Leo

Good morning to you, too, Leonora;
French doves--aha! Vive la difference, lol. Yes, our doves also have those however soft rolling rrr's--now that I think about it. It's mating season here in our warm valley (already), and since I do some wildlife rehabilitation work, that means taking care of orphaned birds, including doves. Jerry

Hi Leo,

It is wonderful to read you again and see that gang flock back, along with Franny and Merlin!!!! This poem brought wonderful memories of my mother to mind, thank you! She loved birds, mostly the morning doves and how they coo'd and dance along with the breeze of a lovely day. I miss that ...
Beautiful poem, I am sorry I have nothing to offer to make improvements, but then again, you didn't leave me anything to improve! HAHA...

BIg Hugs, Liz

Hello again Jerry. French billing and cooing? Possibly Bisou-ing and Cooing?
It seems, (I Googled it) that the Sonorian Desert is a wonderful place to live - an amazing
climate, and spectacular scenery.
Thank you for your charming, 'Three Turtle Doves.' I feel rather like the lass in the the Christmas carol.
who must have been delighted with her various gifts, including, 'Three French Hens'.
It is good to know that the Sonorian bird life is being nurtured; I hope not too many nestlings need special attention this season.
Hope the day is kind to you.
Leo