Little Birdies Flew Away

Diffused soft twilight blush glimmers on the mountains,  birds returning to their nests at quiet dusk,  I, lonely in my backyard garden,  watch the vermillion sky at golden sunset,  the last rays of sun below horizon gradually being wiped out,  listening to birds crooning and chirping to their mates,  making sure their offsprings are fed, taken care of!  Aha! The warm nest - a sanctuary from darkness!  No longer I need to wait anxiously for my little ones to come home… they flew away to the wider horizon  when they were ready to take off!  Still a lot of times their absence amiss to me,  as if I hear their delightful voices,  chattering, giggling, laughing!  I see the empty chairs at dinner table… prepare their special dishes, their favourites,  only at celebrations. Wait for their arrival impatiently!   gifts are wrapped, cakes are baked,  the aroma of freshly-baked cookies surround the joyful place!  And then, after a day or two, there is silence again!  Never thought of a day when the nest would be empty, a carefully built home with love and adoration, for a close-knit family - sharing and caring.. birds gather twigs, sticks and leaves, to create a safe space for their babies, until they are grown. we worked hard to create a secure refuge for our children,  where they had endless opportunities to explore!  We …with patience and endurance, offered a safe haven to our babies, knowing all this time -  some day they will have wings strong enough to glide…   hoping the bond stays permanent,  we must let them soar in kaleidoscopic sky! May 7, 2023  Empty Nest Poetry Contest Sponsor: Cooper Etheridge FIRST PLACE