this same robin
has visited
every day
for the past week
watching
as I work
curiosity
fearlessness
bringing him
closer
and closer
enough for me
to identify
the glowing colour
of his breast
the ruffled feathers
of his crown
and his gentle
inquisitive conversation
as he inspects
the freshly turned soil

i respond
to his chatter
knowing
   not caring
that neither
   understands
      the other;
there is something
in his presence
that outweighs
the need
for answers

there are songs
in the anger
of the waves
upon
the rocks
and the tearing
of the wind
through the long grass
in the plotting
of the clouds
gathering low
in the sky
and
in the droplets
whispering
upon the page

i know
the raven quoth
"nevermore"
and croaked
himself horse
for Lady Macbeth
while the crow
is an omen
of doom
or a messenger
carrying secrets
for the gods
but
if i saw
one of these
blackened birds
in solitude
i doubt
i could tell
which it was

he may say
that all
is forgiven
but that
does not mean
he should
be held
to it

these days
it means
about as much
as when
   he says
"i'm fine"

i read
an article
on self-realisation
today
about how
we are an echo
of the universe
and how
we can use
that awareness
to unlock
   our greatness

it stated that
an echo
is merely
a vibration
bouncing
from point
   to point
across an expanse
it explained that
all objects
throughout the universe
pulsate
   with energy
and
that all objects
are a manifestation
of energy;
therefore
we are
nothing more
than clusters
   of energy
vibrating
bouncing
ricocheting
through space
and time

over time
echoes weaken
and fade
into nothingness
returning to
the universe's preferred
state of equilibrium
that cosmic balance
between order
   and chaos
which existed
long before
our disturbance
and will surely
return again

the article
was meant to be
an aid for
practicing
   inner peace
but it seems
i may have
missed
   the point

even if
   i could
go back
in time
make changes
to the things
that didn't quite
work out
the way i wanted
have a second
   third
      fourth
attempt
at putting
something right
even if
there was
an opportunity
to make
the entirety
   of everything
better
i can honestly say
i'm not certain
i would

i've seen
far too many
films
and tv shows
about time-travel
to make me think
it's probably
a lot more effort
than
it's worth

it could be
a sign;
that the ring
didn't fit
easily
on the finger
effort
was needed
it had
to be forced
or
it could
just be
temporary
joint effusion
perhaps
an unexpected
weight fluctuation
meaning nothing
yet
i'll assign significance
to fit the narrative
feed anxieties
and support
a predetermined
belief