Circled like a flying town

Posted by Bubu on February 28, 2005

Hallo!

I found this phrase pretty odd. I wonder what the poet wants to say. Ah! let me write a part of the poem where I found this phrase.The poem is titled 'stockdoves'.

They rose up in a twinkling cloud
and wheeled about and bowed
to settle on trees
perching like small clay images

Then with noise of sudden rain
they clattered off again
and over the Ballard Down
they circled like a flying town

can someone plz tell me what this phrase "circled like flying town" means?

• Circled like a flying town Word Camel 28/February/05