Small bird,
you are protected now.
But once outside the egg,
you will find the world
is very big.
Do not worry.
You need not hold up the sky
with your wings.
Your world is this branch,
these leaves, these blossoms.
Your flight path has been set for you
by the ancestors, and is written
in the stars.
You will hear a lot of terrifying noise.
There may be explosions, flames and floods.
Remember this song I sing to you.
Carry it in your heart,
along with my wishes for a world
safe enough
in which to
set you free.
The mother zebra finch sings to her chick in its egg. Scientists have observed that this song, sung only to the egg, prepares the chick for life outside the egg. The chicks are born smaller, thus better able to withstand warming temperatures. It amazes me that creatures are smart enough to begin adapting to climate change while humans remain stubbornly oblivious.
Some of you have read this a while back, written for my last prompt at Toads: Staying Strong in a Time of Climate Crisis. Sharing it this weekend at
May this little bird live well and safe......and carry that song always in its heart! A lovely and sensitive write, Sherry.
ReplyDeleteLoving the little winged one reveals the rest of the world too. Marvelous poem.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful.
ReplyDeleteThat voice channels perfectly here, smooth, sonorous and strong. In AA the most affecting thing a recovering drunk can say to the newcomer is, "you're going to be OK." It reminds one of where true north is, and energizes the homing instinct. Thanks for whispering we'll be OK.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me so much of my zebra finches. They had one bunch of babies that were indifferent to me, as the breed usually is, but the second bunch loved me and made a huge commotion every day when I arrived home from work. I wanted to keep them but my ex put the kibosh on that and we farmed them out.
ReplyDeleteI do remember reading this one and I love the voice just as much this time as the first time I read it.
ReplyDeleteThis part stirs my heart as I don't think any creature can hold up the sky no matter how one tries.
You need not hold up the sky
with your wings.
Your world is this branch,
these leaves, these blossoms.
I too wish for a safer world for this bird to be set free.
May the little one be safe. Love the concerned voice here, for the world, for all. Just saw a video yesterday where an Australian magpie was mimicking the noise of siren. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI do love this poem, Sherry!
ReplyDeleteSherry, this is so lovely. Your words touch my heart in so many ways. My heart is broken over disasters in which animals are the greatest victims. I love that you write about this constantly.
ReplyDelete