The Starling Song

One day a Starling did speak with his brother
He twittering and whistled ten minutes or more
On and on about preening and bees, 
About sly cats that hide in the trees

How he lost brown bread by the blue porch 
'twas a small piece he said, seriously, not much
The wind pushed and pulled at one feather
Life was generally good - except for wet weather

With the verdigris lines beneath their sharp feet
The hounds of winter waiting below on the street
This conference was held a bit after six
Every evening they'd meet just to sharpen their beaks

High voltage lines swung back and then forth
Humming some tune about the cold further north
And while he bobbed on the high tension wire
He sang his sad song with terror and fear


“The bell would toll on a late autumn day
The bell would toll and the dogs still say”

“Only humans and fools butcher then weep
Like dogs, they dream, and cry in their sleep”

“When mankind's wars are all long past
Bones like crystal chime in the tall grass”

“Starlings will gleefully sing as they must
The Bells toll poorly when covered with rust”
Copyright © | Year Posted 2015

Poem

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Bickerstaffe Avatar
December 11, 2015 at 10:47 AM
Well constructed and rendered... '...the bells toll poorly when covered with rust.' Long after wars and human indiscretions the starling will still be singing... a comforting thought. Keith
Babbit Avatar
November 12, 2015 at 11:50 AM
Nature knows us better than weknow ourselves. Enjoyed your write. DMB
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