The sparrow tells me that being alone is my chance to sing
That the time it took for the baby bird to rise and fall out of the nest
Hitting every branch and bough on the way down
Is as expected and revered as the wind that blows bits of grass to build the nest
You tried to pad the bark with kind words and encouragement
To soothe the cold rainy nights with feather and food
Hoping that when the time came, the fall would be softer
The truth is that we all fall.
I’ve been waiting for days to find the words to say
When are you coming back
The rain tells me, in time
Unlike the sparrow that fills the sky with a song of his own
But what do I do with the present
I sit and watch the earth winds slowly blow the branches
While the other baby birds are just starting to spread their feathers
Needing food and warmth, comfort
What can a mother do but keep building the nest up little by little
Sticks and leaves, bits of hair and dried flower, so that when she is needed, she is ready
The flowers are forgiving, they wilt from lack of water
Then raise their heads again when it rains.
Marissa Eleni Lourake
Marissa Eleni Lourake writes poetry to incorporate art into her life and to make sense of the world around her. She does her best writing while in nature or while going through times that require deep rooted self-discovery and growth, enjoys cooking, gardening, hiking, traveling, making art, dancing, and music.