Nightbird

Nightbird

For SW




A beautiful bird flies by in the night,
And alights next to me,
I reach out and cradle her in my hands,

She is unsure of my touch,
I hold her loosely and delicately,
So she can fly away whenever she wants,

She is at once dark and pale,
Fragile and strong,
Delicate and perceptive,
Lost and purposeful,

I know she is perfect,
I want nothing more than for her
To stay with me,
To give myself to her,
And for her to be mine,

Yet I cannot trap her,
I cannot close my hands around her,
She can never be caged,
She must always be allowed to fly into the night again,

I feel her heart beating,
And I know she is frightened,
But she stays within my hands,

I hope I can provide her the comfort she needs,
The care she wants but does not seek,
The love she deserves,

She looks up at me and – ah!
She captures my heart,
And enfolds it in her wings,
She buries deep into my soul,
And I know she will haunt my dreams forever,

She stirs,
The moonlight falling on her,
Casting her shadow upon my palms,


She is afraid of her shadow,
It follows her around,
Always with her,
And it frightens her,

I tilt my hands and the moonlight
Floods in beneath her,
Paling her shadow,
Not destroying it,
But taking the darkness away,

She quietens, settles,
Her heart slows down,
And she stays within my hands,
The two of us content beneath
The silver pallor of Selene,





Copyright Joshua Duroux 2009
02/02/09    1:56AM