There he, there he goes flitting 'cross the sky red, bold-winged and beautiful even cardinals die
What does the lone bird say to the man who cannot hear bird sits among the others singing but the song evades man's ears
Dare he try to make a wave his colors still the eyes faces press to glass panes firm even cardinals die
Reaching man is not a job bird's lost all gravity playing fair is no concern bird needs no legacy
And then beneath the oak tree lay a lone bird stilled of flight red, bold-winged and beautiful even cardinals die
Short version: This was written in red pen. Hence the title.
Long Version: So I was walking in Goodwill with my mom and that first stanza popped into my head. Five minutes later, it was still there, and I was afraid I wouldn't remember it, so I looked through her purse for a pin. Nothing, aaaaaaah! So went out to the car. No pen. More ahhhhhhing ensued. And lots of don't-forget-don't-forget-ing. Finally we found red pens and bought them. Then I proceeded to write the first stanza down, and then the second.
Alt. version: Blah blah blah, red, blah blah blah, pen.
Anyways, this is the first thing I've written in a while that I'm feeling like is good. Feel free to correct me. ;) Or agree....whatever.
OH! And the story behind the poem. :P So, I've seen a lot of dead birds. (Not really. I mean, it depends on what you consider a lot. Maybe five. Or six. Or seven. Or eight or nine or ten. Vaguely around that number). I always see cardinals flying outside, and I'm always draw to them--I love to watch them until they fly away. :) And on Easter, while walking with my cousin and brother, we happened upon a dead cardinal. (-_-) I mean, you never consider that birds like that die. You don't think about their life ending. And, when other birds die, you don't think anything of it. But....a cardinal is a cardinal. I think they're some of the most beautiful birds ever. So it just seemed weird to see it like that, splayed out. Anyway, that's what this poem is really about.
Are you sorry you read this, now? Ha. Bet you are. Because my comments are so loooooong. I apologize.
Sincerely.
Comments
:) You are so funny. Thank
:) You are so funny. Thank you for those notes. I never realized that cardinals do die. They ARE so beautiful.
"It is not the length of life, but the depth of life." Ralph Waldo Emerson
I love it. This part: "Dare
I love it. This part:
"Dare he try to make a wave
his colors still the eyes
faces press to glass panes firm
even cardinals die."
And this is my VERY favorite:
"What does the lone bird say
to the man who cannot hear
bird sits among the others singing
but the song evades man's ears."
So awesome. I love it.
"You were not meant to fit into a shallow box built by someone else." -J. Raymond
:)
I love this. It feels like a song by Fleet Foxes or Last Bison. Love this.
Aw, guys! I'm sitting here
Aw, guys! I'm sitting here smiling right now. :) You guys are awesome!
Kassady--LOL!! Thank you. :D I just wasn't expecting to see a cardinal dead. It seemed so much sadder, for whatever reason.
Lucy--Haha! Oh, thank you. Especially for reading them, because I definitely rambled. I really appreciate it. :)
Erin--Thank you!! :D It's so nice of you to read!
Kyleigh--Thank you as well! So much!
Thank you all. :) I so appreciate these comments. And you taking the time to read my writing, much less comment.
Wow
Okay, so I'm exactly sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. I loved it!
Especially the first stanza:
There he, there he goes
flitting 'cross the sky
red, bold-winged and beautiful
even cardinals die
I don't know what it is about it, but it just about took my breath away. It's almost like you tempered the images with each other; you made it all seem more real.
And I loved the red pen story. :) I do the whole don't-forget-don't-forget thing quite a bit myself. :)
And here is another smiley for good measure. :)
The most astonishing thing about miracles is that they happen.
-G. K. Chesterton
Wow, wow...
...wow. I realize this is very old, but I still had it bookmarked to read, along with a lot of your other poetry. And you kind of write a lot of poetry - not that I think that's bad because I think writing a ton is GREAT - but I just don't have much to say about most of it. But this was lyrical and mysterious and full of imagery and I read it three times before I decided I should leave a comment.
I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right. --The Book Thief
Yes, I definitely do! Haha.
Yes, I definitely do! Haha. :) Thank you for even reading, much less commenting. It means a great deal. And thank you for your feedback on this. It was so kind and wonderful. I smiled a bunch. So thank you.
I still come back and read
I still come back and read this sometimes. I have it bookmarked - one of my favorites.
I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right. --The Book Thief
I personally...
I personally loved it!!! It was confusing, the meaning was. Haha, so I was really happy to read your explanation! But it was really well worded, loved it! I don't think I've ever seen a dead cardinal! You are so right!
"Here's looking at you, Kid"
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Write On!