Little Bird Sea Shore
little bird
ocean shore
walking the edge
waves, skitter skitter
stop, beak the sand
in and out along
the tidal know
you stay you go
little bird I watch
you see
skitter skitter away
from me back and forth
sun to moon you
wait rolling waves
advance retreat
finally you fly
I
fly
with
you
souls
of water and sky
always blue
Listen, hear, I am but a gull whose feathers
raise against offshore winds, but the sea,
the sea sent me with words for you.
I waited by the shore break, passed
many days, tides, and angry rain, for the sea
spoke, called forth the sun. As I rode
his rolling surf, he sung of his love for you,
the furious storms that frightened you away.
He knew you trembled in your sleep, dreamt
of being swept away under his dark waves.
He quieted, and waited for your sun to return.
“Gull,” he cried, “She will come back. Tell her
not to go. Look upon my gentle calm.”
And I was part of the sea, and believed.
You sat with the sea all that day, felt, heard,
listened his song of calm, until the clouds
pulled across the sun, though he fought them,
they were angry, and dark. The sea tried,
and tried to hold his calm but the dark
clouds and wind were joined, and the waves
swelled, and louder, crashed, higher and soon,
you were trembling again, and left. I was sorry.
And the sea still cries for you.
drops of night sky fall
upon sleeping sparrows lie
feathers rest for flight
Talking to the Clouds 