The Night Bird Sings

By Bob McAfee

Love is why the night bird sings.

Death calls out for quiet.

Comes the dawn a hollow nest

is home to only silence.

***

If death is cause for quietude

then loss is home to frenzy

gliding through the silent woods

on feathered wings of envy.

***

White bird flies in frenzied bursts.

Dark heart chokes inside me.

I envy him whose bed is shared,

no body here beside me.

***

Inside my bed I hear the surge

as wind stirs moon-raked branches.

I miss your form beside me now,

arm wrapped round morning’s haunches.

***

Sad bird lands on dawnclad branch

and grief be song sung solo,

mourning dirge for those who love,

for those whose nests lie hollow.

🩷🩷🩷

Bob McAfee is a retired software consultant who lives with his wife near Boston.

He has written eight books of poetry, mostly on Love, Aging, and the Natural World.

For the last several years he has hosted a Wednesday night Zoom poetry workshop.

Since 2019, he has had more than 60 poems selected by over twenty different publications.

His website, www.bobmcafee.com, contains links to all his published poetry.

As of early this morning he was still in love with his best friend of nearly 60 years.