Skies, Leaves, Bars

Blue skies for the meadowlark,
Green leaves for the robin.
Stark black bars for me.

Warm May morning,
Pacing--twelve steps forward, twelve back--
Waked again by them.

Gaily trills the meadowlark,
Sweetly chirps the robin.
How then shall I sing?

Songs of mourning,
Keening--twelve notes up, twelve down--
Grieved again by them.

Blissful is the meadowlark,
Ignorant the robin.
They don't know what I miss.

Every morning,
Wishing wailing watching--twelve minutes here, twelve there--
Mocked again by them.

"Mommy, why does our bird sing like that?"
"Because it's happy."
"Oh. Stupid bird."

May '01
<-Years and Lifetimes My Work Wishing Watching Waiting->