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Starlings
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Starlings |
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JenniferMaxwell
since 2006-09-14
Posts 2423 |
We hugged our goodbyes and laughed about the silliness of our parting sniffles and wads of tear soaked tissues. As you passed through the metal detector with the baby held close to your young mother's heart, and the guard made a final blessing like gesture with his hand held wand, I added Amen and prayed your happiness might last forever. I sat by the window to watch your JetBlue vanish into that darkest hour when both traveler and those who remain disappear behind the smokey glass of reflection. I didn’t notice her sit down beside me until she spoke and said, It's hard isn't it. I turned and saw a grandmother figure with rosy cheeks and silky white hair, a Mrs. Santa knitting patiently on something tiny and pink. Wiping tears I choked on It certainly is. She nodded sympathetically and said she was waiting for light. Her son had driven on the way over but she was afraid of going home alone in the dark. We chatted for a few until your plane disappeared into the remains of the night. I wished her safe journey and headed off into the darkness of my own tomorrow. Near the airport parking garage there are three trees, two evergreens and a large Japanese maple, leafless this time of year. Their autumn stark outlines were barely visible in that cold hour before the dawn. As I crossed the road suddenly the palpable silence of the nearly deserted airport was shattered by the sound of hundreds of birds. Though invisible to my eye that lightless morning, I recognized coming from that trinity of trees the song of the flock of starlings that had for days seemed to be following me everywhere as if an omen. I saw them first on that morning after a cold November night rain darkened my world by claiming the last golden leaves from the oaks outside my window and later again that same day at the cove when they hovered like storm clouds and sky danced the forlorn choreography of the lost trapped between conflicting elements. Several days later as I pulled into the nursing home, there they were again, foreshadowing another loss of light in my world. The last time I saw them, before that morning at the airport, was at the gathering on Thanksgiving Day where the family divided by unspeakable darkness assembles once a year to pretend a shred of normalcy. Let it go, let it go is now what I imagine the song of the starlings to be. Though watching you leave took light from my world, I know you were leaving only the darkness for a far brighter world without us - and the starlings will remain as a comfort when in your absence the pale light of winter fades in the early afternoon. [This message has been edited by JenniferMaxwell (12-03-2008 08:50 PM).] |
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| © Copyright 2008 JenniferMaxwell - All Rights Reserved | |||
Alison
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
Jennifer, I just sat back - and in my ever articulate way, muttered, "God, that is incredible writing!" I saw and I felt. I am not much for critique or fancy ways of saying what I like. I just know what I like when I read it. This - I like. I also loved your response recently about Christmas and the lights on the trees in the park. There's a lot of beauty in how you express yourself. So .. I just say, "God, what incredible writing!" Alison |
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moonbeam
since 2005-12-24
Posts 2356 |
Very nicely maintained tone Jenn. Hard to do well, and it was done well here. |
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JenniferMaxwell
since 2006-09-14
Posts 2423 |
A pretty rough draft, I'm afraid, but thank you both so much for your very kind comments. |
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fractal007 Senior Member
since 2000-06-01
Posts 1958 |
I enjoyed this one. I liked your use of the ominous birds. Did you choose that species of bird for any particular purpose? My knowledge of bird omens is a tad rusty unfortunately. The curtain of night drawing closed here and there is well-drawn and it carried me away. I think I'll add this to my library. Life's short. Think hard! |
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