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The Bullfinch (I.P)

Posted by shoe on September 18, 2010 - 10:45
from the ABC set They don't mean to, but they do

She knew nothing of freedom
or of imprisonment,
but with every frenzied beat
of the Bullfinches wing,
with every glimpse
into his panic stricken eyes;
desperate for a chink, a glimmer of escape,
A part of her too tender
to endure it, died.
Later, with his wings outstretched, as if in supplication
or flying, she buried him.
She did not have the words
at six years old
to say;
that they should have released him,
to explain;
that she did not want another bird.
She knew nothing of the ignorance of adults
or the innocence of children,
She did not have the words.

Discuss this piece in the abctales forum


Comments

Highhat | September 18, 2010 - 12:11

" the bite of knowledge"- very clever. Beautiful little poem.
;)

Beeme | September 18, 2010 - 12:26

This is stunning shoe! well done on the cherry :)

Beeme xx

skinner_jennifer | September 18, 2010 - 12:45

Hi shoe,
How sad for the Bull Finch and the little girl,
how tenderly you tell this poem. Really enjoyed
reading this.
Congratulations on the cherry.
Jenny.

shoe | September 18, 2010 - 13:05

Gosh! thank you guys, and thanks for the cherry, I'm made up.

fatboy74 | September 18, 2010 - 20:27

I really enjoyed this shoe - congrats on well deserved cherry.

RachelPatricia | September 18, 2010 - 21:26

Congrats on the cherry, shoe! This is brilliant and beautiful.

Final 3 lines bring the poem to a very tender and truthful end. Great stuff :)

shoe | September 19, 2010 - 08:11

Thank you fatboy74 and paperdreams, your comments are more than appreciated.;}

Kahdai | September 19, 2010 - 17:49

I really like this shoe! K x

MistakenMagic | September 19, 2010 - 22:04

Simple, yet beautiful, Shirley! Really well done on the cherry - those last few lines are just gorgeous!

Magic xxx

peterelbee | September 20, 2010 - 04:59

Well written and something close to my own heart. I don't like seeing birds living out their lives in cages, esp. beautiful ones like the bullfinch.

How sad that it died, yet how delightful that it finally found it's freedom.

shoe | September 20, 2010 - 17:36

Thanks you Kahdai-:}

Magic, Thanks again, your comments as always much appreciated,

Hi, Peterelbee, I haven't seen a bullfinch for years, but rather that than in a cage, thanks for taking time (5.59.am? really?) to comment, :}

kheldar | November 4, 2010 - 19:15

A wonderful piece, I cannot help but think that later in the child in the piece felt similarly caged, experience teaching her the unfortunare words that in innocence she diddn't know.

xx :--)

shoe | November 5, 2010 - 10:23

I think as children we experience feelings that we do not recognise or know how to deal with, only later on with more wisdom (hopefully) are we able to make sense of them. it takes even longer to be able articulate them. Hence writing as therapy!

Kahdai | November 6, 2010 - 13:14

Oooh thats a good comment shoe, I think agree :) xx K

Cavalcaderl | November 17, 2010 - 11:49

new shoe

well done on the cherry!
beautiful poem. So true though,
definitely wriitng is a great therapy
like you say and singing and dance, any
movemnets.Regardless of age. Back now after couple of big problems all sorted out now and nice and warm.
take care.
julie x