Bird Lands (Poem)

Bird Lands

Sleep shakes out into Morgenland
   — land of morning —

stubby doves break the fast of silence
with kwurr-kwurrs and woo-coos,

sift the grass for themes to nourish
lilting songs to fill the cracks of dawn

and beat off blue-jacketed jays'
rockfest of distractions.


Magnolias blossom in Abenland
   — land of afternoon —

its mood rising to the velvety blue-black
of ravens' shimmery long-lined backs.

Storms are coming, the sparrows
suddenly massing, tufted heads tucked in

close to wait out the cloud-clash,
the plaint of rain on fevered blades gone brown.


Soon the all-clear, borne on a live-wire streak
of dew-nipped wings, the sharp bead of eyes

thrilling to feed in the Land der Nacht
   — land of night —

the hoot of echoes in a clearing
just below the upraised roof of the sky

become a decrescendo of swooping owls
taking up their night's watch

of stars splitting the dark like gone-mad cells
making work of new life.

© 2010 Maureen E. Doallas. All Rights Reserved.
______________________

I wrote this poem for Cunning Poets Society, which earlier issued as its May theme the topic "birds". No stipulation was made as to how "birds" might be used. You will find other members' poems or links to their bird-themed work here.