The Swallow’s Song

The silent assassin already present
Nervously awaits; hidden
Time will reveal
truth already in flight.

All swallows fly high; casting shadows
While dopamine fueled, now soon are
Cheated by time-
Progressively forced to land
silently at rest.

Sometimes like stone
unable to spread their wings wide
Can’t aerial feed without effort
Evolve to nest more often
Migrate in song to known places that remain
Safe. Warm. Communal.

Little yellow stones become a reliable avenue
for the birds to sing, move and dance.
When their melodies dim and stumble; when
wings wobble, feathers flutter, clicks of stress;
A series of chirps to the flock is delivered.

The swallows have changed
behaviour, suffering- no longer agile
Will they leave the nest?
Fly strong and sing?
With the sounds of the assassin
loud and deafening now.

With effort to remain aggressive,
using routine to migrate,
Guarding time with tricks and movement
Advancing with electricity and care,
They continue to act territoriality,
Silent in suffering-
These Songbirds of Hope.