By terry
Date: 4 August 2000
Anthropomorphizing Love
I saw the most amazing couple today
Paying strict attention to one another
As he shared most of his lunch with her
While she continued to chirp on about her busy day.
And while the love between them was evident
It was not enough to stop the force of destiny
As in the very next heartbeat
She faced death, dust-to-dust, earth-to-earth.
Because as they took to wing
Startled by a sudden noise, source unseen
She accidentally flew directly into my closed window
The ‘thud’ echoing in my ear and even louder in heart.
She laid on the sill
Feathers still
Either stunned into a brief unconsciousness
Or, (as was the case) neck broken, stilled in a most permanent manner.
And her mate, having witnessed the disaster
Was now at her side
Suffering in anxiety and terror
At her lack of response; lack of movement in any way.
And as I watched, he appeared stunned
Yet not without response
As his left claw rose
And tenderly shook his lover’s still body.
Stunned, I realized what I was witnessing
As he raised his head and sang
His chirping suddenly mournful
The tone low and sad.
For while he may not have understood the circumstances
I think he fully comprehended the consequences
Of a simple twist of fate
That took his mate, his lover away on greater wings than his own.
So when you speak of love to me anon,
My depth of perception has been permanently altered
For love comes in many forms, reaching many levels of deep
And to remind myself of that truth, I think of a hummingbird I once saw weep.
And having seen
I wept too.
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