26/06/21

I learned a new language
To forget about the harsh wind.

I learned a new language
To forget about forgetting the wind.

I learned a new language
To grow wings.

And I flew

Through the familiar forests,
Beyond the gentle hills,
Over to the lonely summit.

May I rest here?

I spoke with words I didn’t know.
I sang with words I didn’t know.
I dreamt in words I didn’t know.

It made the rocks rumble.
It makes the pebbles scatter.
It made the land slide.

And my wings were struck.

I fluttered,
and fluttered.

I frayed,
and frayed.

I failed,
and failed.

I heard a voice…

Was it the torrent?
Was it the pine tree?
Was it the lone wolf?

It was you.

And I sang,
how I sang!

And I paused….

and listened,
and waited,
and waited,

What was this song?

Your gentle and earnest answer?
A trick woven by rustling leaves?
An fading echo of my own plea.

Foolish little thrush.

What language must you learn this time?
What lesson must you learn this time?
What direction must you learn this time?

Where?
Why?
How?

Tired,
tired little wings.

Broken,
broken little heart.

Shattered,
shattered little dream.

You were too slow.
You were too trusting.
You were too gentle,

To avoid the hurling hale.
To evade the rushing rain,
To escape the swirling river.

And now your beak is full of sand.
And now your wings are full of muck.
And now your heart is leaden with moss.

How will you escape again?
How will you hope again?
How will you learn again?

And you wait,
wait forever.

To hear that distant melody again.