On azure skies I see birds majestic.
Soaring like day-dreams pathetic.
Where do they fly? What do they seek.
Down valley sides or mountain peak.
The seabird darts terrified of the eagle,
Constantly squawking like an army bugle.
The parrots move in gangs together,
Afraid of hot and cold weather,
Searching, searching, searching for the best,
High and secure branch to build a nest.
If by magic, a swan was my mother,
And I had wings to fly would I bother?
I lived in Dabrowa Gornicza in Poland,
The Nazis came and gave us the command,
We must work in Auschwitz Birkenau, our new realty.
Thay said that Work would set us free,
I was an ornithologist at that time,
The Nazis said my work was a crime.
I studied the white-tailed Eagle and the Mandarin Duck,
My Mother said we would need good luck,
To see the Ducks and the Swans and any bird that sings,
They fly away easy with their magnificent wings.
She said she wanted the wings of a Swan to be free,
She wanted to fly to any other place to be.
The Nazi will bang on the door soon,
And by the light of the Polish Moon,
I honour the memory of my mother,
For if I had wings to fly I would bother.
-
Author:
David Wakeling (
Offline) - Published: May 16th, 2025 00:26
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 13
- Users favorite of this poem: sorenbarrett
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Comments4
A wonderful poem of metaphor where we too as each type of bird fears something different we as different people have our predators, difficulties and band together for protection. Then there is another aspect to this poem that on another level speaks in reverse metaphor like the Nazi's and the holocaust we are doing the same to nature. Most ingeniously engineered this poem is like a double mirror that looks both ways to eternity by seeing no further than the subject in it. For its most ingenious structure a fave
Thank you mi amigo. As usual your insight is outstanding. It is very much appreciated.Thank you for commenting
This is a cleverly crafted write, I had not before thought of us behaving like birds but clearly in so many ways we do, make you think and enjoyable
Thank you for commenting. Always a joy to read your comments.
You are very welcome
Deeply moving, David. Had I the wings to free myself of this oppressive hell, where would I even fly to when humanity has already sunk to such unfathomable depths? It' lie a hole that no one can get out of. So powerful a despair. 🙏🏻🕊️
Thank you compadre.I think you always express the theme of my poetry better than the poem itself.Your comments are always appreciated
Excellent write David
Thank you
You're welcome
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