Where Do They Go


You see them everywhere,
sometimes countless in number,
winged, walking or wading,
running the gauntlet of waves,
filling the air.
Birds populate the planet, 
make their home in trees,
buildings, on grassy paddocks, 
icy continents and clinging
to the craggy heights of cliffs. 

So many. But where do they go
to die. We see only a few 
as roadkill or the odd one 
decomposing under a bush.
Where are the others?. Surely
death should be more visible
in their ranks, parklands dotted
with those that have fallen dead
from the sky or a branch. More
washed up on a beach.
You would think their remains 
would be everywhere 
in plain sight. But no.

It's as if the dead slip through
a portal and into the unseen,
leaving no trace. Or maybe
the earth simply claims 
and disposes of them 
in haste out of respect. 
Or do they find somewhere 
inaccessible, hidden from view, 
a place to pass away 
and leave the human mind
to wonder why
the bodies of the avian dead
seem to number so few.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2024



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Date: 5/27/2024 12:29:00 PM
Makes one wonder about endangered species, if you cannot even find a dead one lying around, or is that just an oxymoron, (another endangered species) but you’ve plucked some major ones out of the sky here Paul in this wonderful observational piece, cheers David
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Paul Willason
Date: 5/27/2024 11:35:00 PM
Not the dreaded oxymoron....I guess one could conclude that the lack of evidence hastens extinction...keeps the problem hidden. Many thanks David for your comments...enjoy em. Paul
Date: 5/27/2024 6:27:00 AM
They have not died, they have gone to Florida and sit quietly untidy folding beach chairs wondering where the people go when...oh never mind...
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Paul Willason
Date: 5/27/2024 11:30:00 PM
Many thanks for solving the problem John....Florida ?....they must have fallen for all that slick advertising. Appreciate yr comments mate....regards, Paul
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