R.E. Slater - Rebirth

Rebirth

by R.E. Slater

One sunny day I heard a little bird

bouncing along a twiggy branch
sweetly singing melodies rapt
pleasing my ear and
soothing the soul
  its harms and cares
  and dreams.

Then one sudden day

in sorrowing pitch

the little bird burst

in songful whistle -

  "No more, no more, no more!"

Thence flew far, far, away

to faraway lands

to be dolefully heard,

  no more, no more, no more.

“O' little bird come back to me

Your house is still feathered
comfortable and warm -

  O' where shall you go?

  O' where shall you go?”

But the little bird did not return to me
joining other little birds flying far away
before winter’s grim, nethering dawns,
leaving its downy, feathered nest,

  - no longer comfortable,

  - no longer warm.

Soon didst winter’s warming sun

gently awaken fair maiden spring

‘neath flurries of melodious tunes

spun on the wing by my fair little bird -

  whose songs had become garbled

  to my erstwhile ears,

  straining catch of older, familiar

  tunes no longer fairly spinning.

It feathered a new house

and feathered its nest

whilst playfully chirping melodies

blest I never had heard -

  each one as enchanting as each

  was beyond my comprehending.

Then, suddenly I realized

whatever it had meant that

sweet summer’s primrose’d day -

That it was I who could not hear

it’s returning songs of cheer

whilst ever I clung to the

sorreling songs of youth

still glistening their stillborn dews

of mundane acquittal –

"No more, no more, no more!"

R.E. Slater

Nov 19, 21; Dec 26, 2012; Apr 26, 2013; Apr 14, 2026

@copyright R.E. Slater Publications

all rights reserved

*nethering (archaic) – to bring low, or depress

*soreling (archaic) – to forage and gather

*acquittal – to be released from something

Photo Credit: Song Bird Art