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Sorry, nothing new IBWO-wise, but Dean Hurliman has contacted me with new carvings! Regular readers here will recall that Dean is the Iowa woodcarver who made many incredible life-size replicas of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker… and gave them away for FREE to interested parties some time back.
Well, he has some new offerings…
He writes me in part:
“The story of the great auk is an agonizing one important especially now in this era of impending extinction of sundry species. As you know I've made many an IBW, but also Carolina parakeets and passenger pigeons and now two great auks. I would like to get maximum exposure for these carvings, perhaps in some small maritime museum. Perhaps your followers would find some interest in this.”
As you can see Dean is hoping to find a very special and appropriate home for these ‘specimens’. If you can help out contact him at: deankarenhurliman2 AT a Gmail account.
Thanks for all you do Dean!
Dean’s message reminded me of a wonderful, touching volume (a novel actually) that I loved in my youth, called “The Great Auk” by Allan W. Eckert. If you can find a copy give it a read!
And as he has previously done, Dean penned his own tribute to this bird in the following poem he sent along:
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Padraig’s Ave to the Lost Auk
It shames me now how I pursued
that gentle race of tame pen gwyn,
who hoped vast seas would keep ‘im safe
from long boats of us scramblin’ men.
A thought it struck on midnight watch
(the best they comes a little late):
The auk had worth beyond our need
of blanket fill or oily bait.
Me sainted mother’s blessed book
schooled me in the Holy Word:
of how the seas were filled with cod
and how He marks both man and bird.
I’ve risked Nantucket sleigh rides,
cast many a net with pride
but, o’ this pen gwyn thing has left
unease and bitter gall inside.
‘Afa crown says that ‘e’s got
a mortal soul like you or I
but keep that ave to yourself
if Sister Aine be kneelin’ by.
From these Grand Banks I takes me leave
to raise an extra pint o’ wine
abeggin’ the Great Auk’s pardon.
(How sadly some lives intertwine.)
DSH 2020
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Dean's Notes:
The great auk is not closely related to penguins, but seaman Padraig had no interest in taxonomy. He was a 19th century Irish Catholic -devout, introspective, though somewhat independent in theology. The word “pen gwyn” is not Irish, but Welsh. I could not resist using it. The “sleigh ride” meaning may be researched by the reader.
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