Each year, many years in a row

      Awakening the spring sky

With romantic intentions

      Flying everywhere

Landing in budded branches

Beyond this windowed world

      Unembarrassed, never shy

My birds come and cry,

Cry so dearly for love . . .

Then family life and summer

      Take them away from me

Too far for my ears to hear

      They go. They find a place

Where my wishes would take me,

Away they go . . .

To a cool place shaded

      Safe from summer burn

Full of appetizing insects

Void of humanly concern . . .

Once my friends

      Time has taken them

To be with their own

      More comfortable now

More at home

      They were never mine,

Always, always ever on loan . . .

Yet, and still, I long

      Long to be with my birds

Away from this cage

      Into their sanctuary . . .

I wish them well.

I miss them dearly.