The Starling is at
His loudest today, crying
Springlings to the wind.
I think of freedom
And know it as a mental
State – freedom of thought.
I cry inside for
Ukraine: neighboured by such brute
Aggressors who pit –
Metal against flesh
For the sake of territory/
Power/stark control.
Damn these hate-humans
Who are so mired in dark want
They can’t see the stars!
What a waste of this
Existence: furiously
Pumping blood from veins.
All consciousness must
Now reel back from the darkness
Where brokers whisper –
Awful threats against
All life; chant ‘nuclear’ at
Frightened nations and –
Laugh at our despair.
And yet we are not the ones
Whose homes are bombed, we –
Sleep soundly – waking
To horrors visited far –
Off – we feel safe here –
Where starling and red
Robin cry all to these clear
Blue skies, but really –
We are no more safe
Than any sentient life
On this one planet –
While those among us
Harbour toxic death by whim
As false deterrent.
What world this that makes
One species too powerful
For reason; we fail –
Even as half of
Us prop up trees with our backs
So we can all breathe.
Annalie Seaman 