Epilogue

Epilogue

A robin came and perched upon the ledge

One winter’s afternoon, soon after twelve,

It stood and peered in through the frosted glass

And right into my eyes, or so it seemed. 

Back and forth along the ledge it walked

With tender steps upon the icy surface,

Each step came with a momentary pause 

That seemed to enclose a world of passing thought. 

It stopped for a while and gazed at me again,

Perhaps to see some interest in my face,

As with curiosity it stood transfixed,

Our souls somehow communing through the glass. 

Just then, I heard a voice I did not know,

From where it came I could not see, for all

Around was barren, but the robin stood there;

As it stared into my soul, I knew who spoke.

“I sense the pain you feel”, it said “and cry,

I see the tears you cry and feel your pain;

Beyond the cruel frost they speak, and send

Their message all around the windswept void.”

“I flew to where those cries like thunder led me,

And saw the tears that twinkled in the moonlight,

Like distant stars they pointed out the way”,

It said, with such compassion in its eyes.

“Give me the pain you feel, the tears you shed,

Too long they have surrounded all your thoughts,

Let go of all the images you cherish

Of him who led you, lovestruck, into ruin.”

“For in the depths of winter, I sing on,

When other birds have fled to warmer places,

Through darkness few can bear I now can lead you,

And show you spring that lies on the horizon.”

“Give me the desolation that imprisons,

The hopelessness that led you to the edge,

The cruelty that shattered all your heart,

The hatred that has left your soul so withered.” 

The invitation hung in the frozen air,

Like snowflakes hovering before they land,

A promise of an inner world forgotten,

Through darkness that the vanished lover left me. 

“How can this be”, I asked, “when all I know

Is darkness, isolation, cruelty,

Abandoned promises and words of hatred

That rang through cold and lonely winter nights.”

“For so long how in darkness I have sat,

And searched the howling winds for signs of him,

Perhaps I hoped he needed me somehow,

And could not find me through the thickening fog.”

The robin paused and then replied “take heart,

The sorrow that he left you can be over,

For I will bear you through the cruel winter,

And lead you on to spring you have forgotten.” 

“And he will be a distant memory,

For whom so many verses you have written;

Beyond the distant sunrise lies your future,

And happiness you have so long deserved.”

“The flowers that have died once more will blossom,

And trees in green rejoicing then will go,

The sun will warm and melt your frozen heart,

And freedom once again will fill the air.”

“And then another you will find”, it said,

“For whom you long ago abandoned hope,

And I will stay beside you and protect you

If ever former villains should return.”

I stepped outside, and walked towards the ledge,

Where still the robin waited, and it led me

Out the gate, and down the winding laneway,

As more and more the light began to tease me. 

And on ahead, a golden gate appeared,

The light was dazzling, as my eyes adjusted,

And gradually, a world then showed itself 

That once I knew, but long since had forgotten. 

We walked then on, that little bird and I, 

Towards what seemed a newer destiny,

And left the winter darkness far behind,

Its broken soul trapped in a broken sky. 

11/12/18