My little bird has flown her nest
—How sad, how sad am I!
To think I did my level best
To teach her how to fly.
In one heartrending final test,
With never a chirped "Goodbye!"
Her winsome wings, at life’s behest,
Took to the western sky.
No more shall gape the wee brown beak
Upon my swift return;
No more shall I kiss dear her cheek
Upon her bed of fern.
No more shall hush the darling peep
To hear my lullaby;
No more beneath my breast she’ll sleep,
Though ever I shall cry.
O little bird, so spirit-blessed
—How sad, how sad am I!
All mine I did in yours invest,
Where ever it shall lie.
Was ever young hen more distressed,
Did ever one old more sigh?
No prayer can grant my life’s request
That I might prophesy:
Where sing you my once-speckled egg?
Where sleep you (warm?) at night?
Find you fat worms enough who beg
They foil your early sight?
And will your warble, sweetly heard,
Soon win for you a mate?
And will you, too, a little bird,
Leave sad more soon than late?
My little bird has flown her nest
—How sad, how sad am I!
To think I made it my life’s quest
To teach her how to fly.
Was ever a mother sadder pressed
To kiss her bairn goodbye?
My heart has flown from out my breast.
How sad, how sad am I!
Very nice, but what happened to my satireday evening post?
This is indeed sad. To spread one's wings, to fly off into the open spaces, leaves us sad with empty places.
Les
p.s. I too missed the Daffynitions.
You might know I'd like this one David.
JP
Bump. David is unfortunately the most underread good poet here.
Les
David--this one was recommended by Mr. Les...boy can I relate to this one---empty nest for sure since my youngest is in TONGA---sigh...
Ell
David,
This is one wonderful piece of poetry. It was a pleasure to read.
jhs
Oh geez David!
just when i'm about to give up on you you come up with this amazing piece. and you wrote is so beautifully, i could almost feel my mother and my mother's mother yearning for her babies to come home.
thank you for sharing this with us!
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. (Aristotle)
Shame on Gwydion for giving up on you. By the way, what is "bairn?"
Bob-
It is a Scottish coloquialism meaning baby. Usually preceded by 'wee'.
Jack
I've been reading over some of Daivid's works, he was a talented contributor to this forum.
Les
Yes, he sure is an especially gifted writer. I hadn't read this one before, but did prefer the few other pieces like this...minus the word plays and definitions...that I had read. Beautifully written. Good bump, Les.
Mary
David aside from his verbosity could certainly keep a meter ad infinitem.
Les