THE DIFFERENT STROKES OF BIRDS

THE DIFFERENT STROKES OF THE BIRDS

The different strokes of birds in the sky

define the air and shape the space.

Each one is like a marker in a book

or underlining on a page giving

meaning and truth to to time and

point and reason to the world.

Hornbills dip into knives and

glide into paper planes,

while sparrows fall like dry leaves.

Waxbills are pulled by swift

invisible strings into trees.

Doves' wings settling are a hushed prayer

and leaving a spoken blessing.

Wagtails flicker and bow in broken light.

The claplark drums unseen

in a season of promise.

Owls and eagles soothe and smooth

the wind with wings of power.

No human gesture marks history

with favour.

It seems we only scar the souls

of those we love.

Copyright Ruth Hartley

Lusaka 1980s?.