Ye Little Birds (a peom; reedited)

Ye Little Birds
[Back from War]


Here, then, I came back home from War
Back to Minnesota (in ’71),
And the birds appeared before me,
Seemed to know me!
But I am was no child anymore
‘Oh, but I was happy to see the birds fly
Perched on trees so high—
As if they knew God, Himself—
Thank you for the blessings…
Ye Little Birds, for your songs:
I wonder if they know,
They hide in Vietnam!


Here, then, I came back, [Ye little birds]
To watch you, in your trees, blue skies
Fly so free and high…
I find myself somehow
Entwined with thy
With sounds of wings fading
And sounds of song:

Caw-caw
Coo-coo
Cluck-cluck

“He is home,” they cry.

Tossed images inside my soul,
Floating, floating, now to leave the war behind:
For the birds do not like wars
(They have told me so, in Vietnam
“Do not depart,” they said
Just a short while ago…
But yet, I knew I’d have to go
Time, and time again…
The birds know.)

Here, then, I came back to you
Who have never left my mind?
Ye little birds—of Minnesota
I wonder if they know
In Vietnam, they don’t sing
Anymore!


Note: The Author is a decorated Vietnam Veteran (1971); this poem was originally written
And published in 2001, in the book “Where the Birds Don’t Sing” 176 (reedited/revised: 9-2010)