Blackbirds
truly the better part
of my life out-of-doors
but yesterday I heard a new sound above my head
a rustling, ruffling quietness in the spring air
and when I turned my face upward
I saw a flock of blackbirds
rounding a curve I didn't know was there
and the sound was simply all those wings
just feathers against air, against gravity
and such a beautiful winning
the whole flock taking a long, wide turn
as if of one body and one mind.
How do they do that?
Oh if we lived only in human society
with its cruelty and fear
its apathy and exhaustion
what a puny existence that would be
but instead we live and move and have our being
here, in this curving and soaring world
so that when, every now and then, mercy and tenderness triumph in our lives
and when, even more rarely, we manage to unite and move together
toward a common good,
and can think to ourselves:
ah yes, this is how it's meant to be.
"Blackbirds" by Julie Cadwallader-Staub. © Julie Cadwallader-Staub. Reprinted from The Writer's Almanac
10 comments:
That's beautiful. I'm going to read this aloud to my husband.
Thank you for sharing Beth, how beautiful!!
This is such a beautiful poem. Thank you for sharing.
That is what I would call a thinking poem, making one reflect on its true meaning. Thanks for sharing Beth!
What a gorgeous poem - I got chills as I read. Thanks so much for sharing :)
'..instead we live and move and have our being here, in this curving and soaring world so that when, every now and then, mercy and tenderness triumph in our lives and when, even more rarely, we manage to unite and move together toward a common good,.. This is a wonderful poem. Thanks.
Enjoyed this, thank you:)
I'd have quoted the same section Paul C did. Lovely.
This is lovely! Thank you for sharing poetry with us. It's a good choice.
I like the new look of your blog. I've noticed it for awhile and just didn't say anything, but it's very nice. :)
Beautiful poem! It's a keeper.
PS: In case you're interested, I'm hosting a little Spring Poetry Contest over at my blog. Contest ends May 3rd @ midnight.
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