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Open Poetry #15
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Blackbird
| Open Poetry #15 |
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Blackbird |
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poetsguild Member
since 2001-08-12
Posts 85Florida |
Blackbird Sitting in the pine straw statue-still, black eyes glaring under the watchful gaze of the bob-tailed cat, the baby waited its fate. To live or die by parents’ succor or the claw’s honed grip. The suspense was too much so I scooped it up as it pecked my fingers instinctively and carried the ruffled bird inside to nestle in a shoe box with its sibling similarly gathered earlier in the day; fed buttermilk and bread from a dropper until it stopped showing the pink-lined spread of its bill. When morning came only one was alive and I wondered if the other would soon die. It didn’t and slowly grew into adolescence, taught to feed itself and drink water from a cup, given trinkets and a swing to sway. But I knew its heart’s desire even as it sat upon my shoulder, pulling at the shiny dangles hanging from my earlobe. I observed its gaze toward the outside world, the azure expanse, the tall pines; its kinsfolk lined on rugged limbs. So one day I carried the cage outside and hung it on the frame of the outdoor swing opened the door and waited. Half of me wanted it to be free, the other half wanted it to stay a prisoner of safety and security. It hesitated, confounded by the smells and sounds and lack of walls then hopped on the threshold, raised its wings and flew in ever-widening circles around the yard. I held my breath and watched as it sprinted from tree to tree until it was gone from view. The rest of the day and the next I stared into the dark pines until my neck hurt wondering if it was there regarding me knowing me, or if in its joy of ultimate release, its former world had been forgotten. But I noted, as if for the first time, how blackbirds perch on the topmost sprig and sing to the sun. © 2000 Melissa Songer [This message has been edited by poetsguild (edited 08-24-2001).] |
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| © Copyright 2001 Melissa Songer - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Titia Geertman Member Ascendant
since 2001-05-07
Posts 5182Netherlands |
I love this poem for I know this situation so well. Me too have raised several birds and set them free later. Marvellous sight to see them take their freedom. Thank you poetsguild. Titia A rose is a rose is a rose...I guess... |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
Such a touching story, and I for one am very glad you shared this with us. Very well done indeed. I truly enjoyed the read. ~Somewhere in my heart I'm always |
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Duncan Member Ascendant
since 2001-08-07
Posts 5455 |
Each spring it seems, more baby birds to save...and rabbits, lizards, mice, turtles, kittens, puppies. Ok, I get carried away but I have no resistance to a baby anything. Great job with this. |
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Marge Tindal 
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
PoetsGuild~ Most tender recall~ This was wonderfully written and shared. Thank you~ ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ |
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poetsguild Member
since 2001-08-12
Posts 85Florida |
To all of you who expressed your enjoyment of this piece - Thank you. |
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rwood Member Elite
since 2000-02-29
Posts 3793Tennessee |
I really loved this. As I have been a surrogate mother nature a few times myself. Very touching verse. It's a wonderful feeling to save any type of life. Sincerely, Regina |
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