Requiem

I found a dove lying broken
I knelt just as it died.
It had chosen my high window
as its own patch of blue sky.

A young dove it appeared to be,
too young to know or care
that windows are seductive
when one's flying in the air.

It was too young to wonder
where Summer's leaves had gone,
or to know there'll be new buds
along with Springtime's song.

Too young to taste wild berries
hidden by an early snow.
Too young to soar and soar someplace
where only birds must know.

Too young to choose a handsome mate
and raise its very own;
to age with grace and wondrous tales
of places it had flown.

Gently it's placed beneath an oak,
on fallen leaves to lie.
While its spirit, at last released,
will fly and fly and fly.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2021

Poem

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Ashley Avatar
January 13, 2023 at 7:37 PM
Dear Ann, your tender heart shines with the beauty of empathy in this poignant poem. Your mournful muse flows with grace through your precious pen and onto the poetic page to reach deeply into the realm of love. The young dove rises to new heights on the soaring wings of your soulful verse. Indeed, we are emotional sisters :)) Warmest wishes, sweet Ann.. ~Susan
Peck Avatar
May 12, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Dearest Susan, i was looking for a poem I wrote when I first joined PS, and I found your lovely words about "Requiem" that I never acknowleged. Thank you for your tender words to me as I tried to find my way among such talented poets. Your comments meant so much to me.
Delaney Avatar
December 30, 2022 at 10:31 AM
Dear Ann: This is so poignantly beautiful. I always feel sad when a bird flys into a window but your deeply expressive poem gives feeling to thoughts that we probably feel but can’t express as wonderfully as you have in your poem. High regards, SuZ
Peck Avatar
January 13, 2023 at 5:09 PM
Dear SuZ, I just found your comments. Thank you for writing them. Yes, it's sad when they fly into a window, altho a young hawk flew into one and survived. I went out to check and it was perched on my neighbor's roof, a bit dazed. My best to you.
Liguori Avatar
October 4, 2021 at 9:54 AM
Bless their souls each and every one, happens way too often. Beautiful poem.
Peck Avatar
October 6, 2021 at 8:55 AM
Thank you for reading my poem, Robert! You and I are kindred souls when it comes to birds.
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