7:53pm October 6, 2014

Flying Home

[Background: My friend’s Quaker parrot probably won’t make it through the next day, certainly not the next week, unless she’s much tougher than she seems.  She’s stopped eating, and with a bird metabolism that’s bad.  I wrote this poem from things I saw in my head thinking about her death.  It’s also on my main poetry blog, which has a comments section.]

[Image description: Peri, a green Quaker parrot standing with her back to the camera, fluffed up and leaning a bit on a feather toy hanging from her small hospital cage.]

I never knew you well
But I know enough to see
You are as perfect as a bird can be

And right now
Over the trees
I see
A flock of birds
Made out of nothing but light
A flock of birds
Waiting for your final flight

So don’t be afraid
Don’t be afraid when they come
They’re only coming
To welcome you home

When it’s time to fly away
Then fly away
Don’t hold out too long
Trying to stay

You have the whole of eternity
To fly into
And everyone there
Will join with you

So when you know it’s time
And you’ll know
Fly away
Leave us behind
Our love will ensure
We won’t be long behind you now
We won’t be long behind
Behind you now

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