Sorry to be so behind reading and posting – will try to catch up with everyone soon! Thanks to everyone for your presence and support.
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Wood carving by my uncle Bob McCausland, 1994
(And for now, here’s a repost from last August)
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Oh garden bird,
you kept a wild heart
between your ribs
as you danced the morning breeze
and darted circles
through the phlox.
Your last song
was of forgiveness
to the cat
before you died.
Let me hold your empty body,
till I feel again the pulse
of swaying hills
and flying trees.
My wings ripen
with your feathers
as we both reclaim the sky.
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(c) 1995, 2012 Betty Hayes Albright
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Wood carving of song sparrow by my Uncle Bob McCausland in 1994
Wonderful, Betty–my fave part is “you kept a wild heart between your ribs”. That is my prayer today, that I will keep a wild heart within me. Thank you so much–thinking of you all day. God bless you–love, Caddo SOS
Thanks, Caddo – I always appreciate your caring words!
Good to hear from you – are you are safe from the Colorado fires …
Hi Grandfathersky – yes, far from them. (I’m up in the Pacific NW where it’s cool and rainy, fortunately.) Hope everything is calm where you are!
so full of hope, love the sensing of flight through touching the body and your own wings ripening…..
Thank you for your nice comment, Scrawlerman – I appreciate your visit!
amazingly beautiful, sad but hopeful too!
Glad you saw both sides to it, Willow.
What a blessing to have that remarkable wood carving of the song sparrow by your uncle! And you have re-posted a very find ode to a dead garden bird here. So much lyrical uplifting celebrated here. Thank you, dear Betty!
Granbee, thank you so much! (My uncle was a very gifted artist, sculptor, woodcarver, muralist, cartoonist, you name it! He carved hundreds of these little birds, and this one was given to my grandmother for her 100th b-day in 1994. I do feel honored to have “inherited” it.
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“Your last song
was of forgiveness
to the cat
before you died.”
A great heart indeed.
Thank you, Ben – yes, no matter the size of the heart. Each is great.
What a beautiful, albeit, melancholy, tribute to this little bird and the carving is amazing, Betty!
Thank you, Lauren!
A beautiful wood carving, Betty, and the idea of transformance in the poem is fascinating. As a poet you have empathized so deeply with the dead bird, you have taken on its wings and
… feel again the pulse
of swaying hills
and flying trees.
Then your wings, not the birds wings,
….ripen
with your feathers
as we both reclaim the sky.
Empathy leads to feeling, which leads to metamorphosis. When you think of it this is an amazing, startling, end to the poem.
Thomas, thank you – that’s such a wonderful compliment (your words “amazing,” “startling,”)! I’m glad you liked this one.
Love the poem and the wood carving, Betty!
David, thank you! And thanks for continuing to visit my blog – even though once again I’m far behind reading yours. But I shall get caught up with you eventually! You’re one of my favorite poets (and artists) here.
I’m so glad you reposted, Betty, as I had not read this one before. Every line sings with joy and sorrow, the cycle of nature…so beautiful and cruel and somehow understanding…
‘Your last song
was of forgiveness
to the cat
before you died.’
This is such a special poem for me.
I’m glad you liked it, Diane. Thank you for your always-insightful comments.
Oh! Forgot to say…the woodcarving is exquisite.