There were doves.
Amongst them was a raven.
The doves did not treat the raven unwell.
The doves treated the raven the same as they treated other doves.
They did not look at the raven with disgust.
They did not look down upon the raven.
They are all birds, after all.
The birds treated all each other the same, as an equal.
It didn’t matter what one looked like.
It didn’t matter what parts one had.
It didn’t matter if one was a male or not.
Why should they treat one like that?
After all, they are all birds.
They help each other fly.
They can chose where they want to fly.
They can soar high and low together.
They grow from their strengths.
They grow from their weaknesses.
The birds befriend other animals.
Dogs, cats, foxes, wolves, and many more.
They befriend a little human girl.
The human little girl wished she was a bird, but the little girl said that if she were to be a bird, she’d be locked in a cage.
‘Why? Why is that?’ We birds asked.
‘Humans. That’s why.’ Replied the little girl.
She said that she would have limited freedom.
She said that humans would control her ability to fly,
Humans would control where she would fly.
Even if she wanted to go the other direction.
‘Why would humans do such a terrible thing?’ We asked.
The little girl hung her head low, ‘Humans want to take advantage of others. They tie each other down. They cut off each other’s wings, and rip out their feathers so they cannot fly. They put each other in cages, where only they are in control of one’s freedom.’
Humans don’t fly as one. They never will. Not even in millions of years.
To be as one is something humans only hope to achieve. Something humans only dream of achieving something so simple.
Just because one is different, they are not treated the same.
Even birds are different.
Birds sing differently.
Some sing higher.
Some sing lower.
Some sing better than others.
Yet they sing in harmony.
Even though they are not the same, they treat each other the same.
Why can’t humans fly as one bird? Why do some have to fly lower and some fly higher?
Each day the little girl visits,
she has to be home by 5:00 PM.
Each time, before she leaves,
she says that she’ll come again the next day.
One day, she hadn’t returned.
Oh, how sad.
She was only just a bud, in a field of full grown flowers.
Yet they picked her for decoration.
Living decoration, never lives very long.
Oh, how sad.
She was only a bird,
that had her newly grown feathers, plucked.
Oh, how sad.
Just like a butterfly,
When those wings are broken or ripped,
They will vanish within the earth.
Becoming one with the earth.
Oh, how sad.
Children are supposed to fly. Not fall.
Children are supposed to grow. Not sink.
Children are supposed to be brought/taken under one’s wing. Not to have their wings stolen, so that one could fly higher.
They are supposed to be taught to help others fly. Not fall. To be taught to grow and not steal.
Oh, how sad.
Now we sit upon her rock, with her name engraved. Lobelia Anemone/Verbena Anemone.
Oh, how sad.
The raven, weeped the most.
The little girl and the raven were closer than others.
Oh, how sad.
The rock was covered in feathers and flowers, that was only left by the birds.
Oh, how sad.
They left flowers that were just like her name.
Other flowers were left too.
Oh, how sad.
You couldn’t be one with your kind. So now, you can be one with the earth.
Don’t worry dear child.
A bird doesn’t live very long.
We will see you soon again someday.
I am sorry.
Maybe one day, you are reborn as a raven.
Maybe one day, we could all fly together,
As one.
Maybe one day, we could all sing in harmony together,
As one.
Something a human could never achieve.
I am sorry, my dear friend.
If only you could fly.
I would be there.
I am sorry, my dear child.
A free verse and elegy poetry by me: Maderina Waruka
