03/08/20

Last night,

There’s something I wanted to tell you
There was something I wanted to share with you.
There was something I wanted to greet you with.

But there were miles and miles,
But there were hours and hours,
But there were words and words,

Between us.

Instead I told you

Good morning,
Good night,
May God keep you.

Every syllable
A glimmer.

Every letter
A spark

Every breath
A gem.

So many things I wanted to say
So many things I wanted to give
So many things I wanted to share

So I keep them,

In a nest of twigs
In a chest of iron,
In a treasure box.

Cast into the sea
Cast into the desert
Cast into space.

Never to be found.
Never to be beholden.
Never to be known.

Do you wonder,

Dear heart,
Dear love,
Dear wing,

about the words I never speak?

Do they carry the same weight
Do they carry the same worth
Do they carry the same depth

as those promises you never make?
as those confessions you never share?
as those confidences you never breathe?

Do they?
Do they my dear?

Something beautiful happened to me
Something rare happened to me
Something precious happened to me.

By the door,
By the by,
By the steps,

I found a fledging.

Struggling
Straggling
Stammering,

So sweet,
So soft,
So small.

Vulnerable.

I held it in my hand
I cradled it in my hand
I sheltered it my hand.

What to do?
Where to go?
What to say?

Oh my baby
Oh my hope
Oh my heart

don’t be afraid.

Dear Lord,
Dear Sustainer,
Dear Keeper,

Help me help it.

I made a nest,

Out of straw,
Out of despair,
out of love

Its mother

Flying to and fro
Chirping high and low
Fluttering there and here.

I cannot fly
I cannot reach
I cannot leave

Like they do.

I am but human
I am but a woman.
I am but a girl,

Shivering,
Begging,
Whimpering,

Freedom,
Home,
Freedom.

Quivering with life,
Shivering with thirst,
Palpitating with anticipation.

There was a bird in my hand.

How miraculous
How beautiful
How sad!

The next morning

Took the bird away
Took the fledging away
Took the hope away.

Did it fly?
Did it die?
Did it cry?

The bird has flown.

I am silent.
You are silent.
There’s only silence.

Where to now?