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Mary-Eliz May 2018
already flown the nest
they grow so fast
and fly away

so soon they're on their own
swiftly go their days

I had seen the lovely blue
of their protecting "wombs"
then next thing I knew

peeked in -

empty now

they've fledged

took to air

no sign
they'd even been there
Several days ago a bird startled me flying out from a vine growing on a small trellis. I peeked in and saw a nest within the leafy vine, two perfect blue eggs inside. Today I had my phone handy, decided to get a picture of the eggs...empty, not the slightest trace of feather or shell. There's another nest on the top of a drain spout, too high to peek in, but I did see momma sitting quietly there today. I feel honored when they nest nearby and a bit nostalgic when they fledge.
Mary-Eliz May 2018
In paradisum
deducant te Angeli


our young voices
sang out sweetly
sounding
like the angels
we invoked

"May the Angels lead you to paradise"

my heart cracked
a little more each time

it was supposed to be an honor
to sing the funeral mass
but amidst sad and lovely music
I heard the crying
felt the grief

from the choir loft you could hear them
sobbing down below
as the priest's solemn chanting
echoed all around

you could see the casket
near the altar
adorned in purple
draped in black

you could smell
the burning candles,
the incense
and the flowers

once when I heard a child cry
it was more than I could take
my tears flowed with the mourners
I was choked
and couldn't sing

all the pain I could imagine,
all anguish
and despair
crept in and
fully broke

what had been merely cracks

from then I never found the music
lovely

so much more than sad
it was bitter and disturbing

to a young
impressionable
mind
Catholic school...6th 7th 8th graders...some as young as ten were taken from the classroom to sing for funerals. Most kids only saw it as a lucky break from school. I grew to loathe it and dread the news of a funeral we were set to sing. Each time added to a pit of indescribable grief inside me. Grief I didn't know what to do with!
Mary-Eliz May 2018
birdsong
in cerulean sky
ceiling

green verdant grass
beneath us
lying lazily
in love
Mary-Eliz May 2018
meadow
velvet green
flecked with color

amber sunshine
warming
wildflowers
violet, cream and rose
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