Bird Song

How effable are bird song translations?

In fables, birds can speak to fairy folk;

and Sigmund—after eating dragon heart—

could understand their dialogue in time

to save himself from lies and treachery.

I wonder if birds care enough to give

a birds-eye view of  what goes on below?

I’ve heard them scold when people near their nests

and leave bird feeders empty in the snow,

but not lectures on caring for our home.

Have they oral composition contests

for lyrical relevance and satire?

Could they be waiting for a breakthrough when

we can say “tree” in their language and tone,

our hands on bark, Helens ready to talk?

Say “Tree,” please, Tree for nesting infants, and

for fellowship with bees. Tree to launch

our children from on strengthened fledgling wings;

Trees to protect us when a predator flies by—

Say “Tree,” please, Trees take care of many lives.

Bird song’s ineffable but sweet, so we

don’t hesitate to resonate with bird’s

proximity.  We bell our cats and hope

that birds remain our backyard friends, while we

write poems about our own propinquity.

For Sumana's 

Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Birds

with assistance from Kerry Says ~ Let's Visit the Family.

The word of the day from Wordsmith was effable, an adjective meaning capable of being expressed. From Latin fari (to speak), it is ultimately from the Indo-European root bha- (to speak), which also gave us fable, fairy, fate, fame, blame, confess, and infant (literally, one unable to speak). 

My blog poems are rough drafts. 

Please respect my copyright.

© 2016 Susan L. Chast