Sunday, July 3, 2011

this little space


the child
cries with outrage

his mother calls
in her own voice
"cry my child"

his father calls
"be strong my child"

and i whisper soft encouragement
and quiet assurances
that i don't wish anything more
than to share this little space

18 comments:

Elisabeth said...

There's much poignancy in these cries of need, met with encouragement and exhortation. Thanks, steven.

R. Burnett Baker said...

A gentle and perfect sentiment. Don't we hope that they, in some way of nature, understand?

rick

Reya Mellicker said...

We need both messages, don't we? Cry loudly and remember how powerful we are. All "truths" contain paradox. I guess that's why we need two parents, at least ... also wise bystanders such as yourself.

steven said...

elisabeth - i imagine that in some form these cries and the rejoinders of their parents are similar across all living things. steven

steven said...

rick - i always talk to birds and animals and fish and hope that some quality of tone carries my sentiments across to their world. steven

steven said...

reya - yes! cry loudly and remember our powerful selves. especially when we become our own parents. steven

hope said...

Ah, we have 4 of these little criers right now...although their Papa yells loudest, running off all intruders from the nest. Except for Hubby, the dog and me. :)

Nicely said.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Seems to me this little one is demanding the undivided attention of its parents - just like children really.

steven said...

4! hope that's cool. we've gone through waves of baby blackbirds, robins, and mourning doves. this is the last one i know of. there are nests everywhere! steven

steven said...

weaver - so like children. steven

ellen abbott said...

the hawk who built here nest in our pecan tree is still around. I see her in the mornings especially. I can't tell what's going on though. she'll get in the nest and looks like she is rearranging small twigs. I guess she has eggs or babies but can't tell. lots of activity around it though.

Linda Sue said...

Awww- the photos of the little newbie just makes me want to MOTHER...By the way I am loving all of your photos of flowers, deep and rich colour and very close- personal...Really good.

d'Artagnan said...

So beautiful. Thank you for this!

Friko said...

Is this a little chick in the lettuce leaves?
Best watch out for the big bad cat!

As always, you tug at the heartstrings.

steven said...

ellen - the hawks are about one hundred metres from me where the food runs around the fields and they - hovering discreetly overhead - get to pick out their meal! steven

steven said...

linda sue - they have exactly the same ambience about them as newbie human babies don't they!! that frustrated helplessness that grabs your heart - i can feel that memory in my heart as i write it. steven

steven said...

d'artagnan - thanks for your gracious comment. steven

steven said...

friko - it's the strangest thing but as the weather turned really warm the cats have disappeared. in fact when the baby birds started arriving, the cats were no longer to be seen. how strange because there's easy pickings right there for them!!! steven