Astronomy

"Like lesser birds on the four winds Like silver scrapes in May" these are the birds who are always around scavenging especially in May when the park is just opening. The silver scrapes are the big grey winged seagulls that snatch your ice cream."

• I dunno 'bout that. "Silver scrapes in May" & "gravely digs" to me are associated. Interesting, you're thinking of a scavenger bird, and I'm thinking of scavengers with metal detectors. Scrapes being little old trinkets in the sand, or under the accumulation of sand and mud from years ago. This song was written when aluminum was not that popular, there were metal cans. You would go through a mess of rusty metal and if you were lucky you may find some old coins. Silver scrapes are what are mostly dug early in the summer, and is virtually all gone (near the top) once the summer begins reaching its end. , May being the month when a lot of those in cold climates finally come back from their summer property. Silver scapes in May to me means something which is first plentiful, and then vanishes, so by the end of summer your metal detector no longer finds anything. The scavengers with the metal detectors have taken all the loot. Scrapes is a word that I think of implying material in which one seeks lost treasure that is virtually unfindable because it has gone. Now the sands become a crust, and most of you have gone away (to warmer climate zones). The secluded beach is a poignant metaphor for where mystical and occult seekers come.