Sitting on the rusted frame
Of a broken windowpane;
Feathers ruffled
And head ticked under your wing;
Your back turned despairing
Against the world and the rain.
Where have you been?
Tell me, what have you seen?
Did you go to see the great cliffs of snow
Where giant bears swim and fish?
And did you see those white cliffs melt and crash
And gaunt bears of white
Give up without any fight?
Did you fly over seas of blue and green,
Where whales splash
Like babes in a bath?
And did you see a slick of oil,
Slimy shroud on seabird corpses?
Did you fly where forests reach high
To flirt with clouds in the sky?
And did you hear the axes
And see those tall trees fall
To shatter and splinter;
Fuel for one winter?
Have you seen the deserts of sand
Seemingly empty and bland
Burst into colour, perfume and thrill
When the first rains flow?
And did you see the mining sludge
Soak in and kill
The flower beds of tomorrow?
Have you flown
To the savannahs
Where animals large and small can roam;
Golden plains of promise
And the gift of life for all?
And did you see those savannahs aflame,
Gnarled carcasses all that remain?
Little bird,
Head tucked under your wing;
Is it the rain that bothers you,
Or is it something
More disturbing?
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