A Tale of Two Swans

Dedicated to the beautiful Matthew Simpson

Once there were two little chicks
Lost and forlorn, confidence needing to be fixed
Soft and grey, while their friends were yellow
Each suffered the cry of "What an ugly little fellow."

The two chicks had felt so out of place
They hung their heads in saddened disgrace
"I want to be happy, I want to be free
But who'd want an ugly little thing like me?"

The chicks were unhappy and grew up alone
Not wanting to be the one they'd always known
"I want to know who I truly am
But next to those yellow ones, I don't know that I can."

As they grew older they grew more and more sad
Everything they tried went old and grew bad
They saw their friends come together and separate
They thought "I can't do that; for me it's too late."

"You're not one of us," the others protested
"In competitions of beauty you'd always be bested"
The yellow chicks would not understand
That the little grey ones felt they were damned

Then purely by accident when looking for cover
The two grey chicks passed the beautiful other
"Another like me; that was my chance,
Upon seeing their eyes, my heart has been lanced"

The two chicks began to think of that One
Not knowing at first that the bonding was done
"What is this feeling?" both of them thought.
"I looked into their eyes, my love has been caught."

The two little chicks saw each other again
And began to build their own little den
Of thoughts, of feelings, and of wishes too.
"Oh, what I wouldn't give to be close to you!"

"These people surrounding us," the larger one said,
His wingtips stroking the smaller one's head.
"Are filled with sickness and jealousy and hate;
Oh but little, little one, won't you be my mate?"

"Yes, oh yes!" the little one cried
As the bigger looked merrily shocked and surprised
"I always knew, right from the start
That you are the one to own my dear heart."

They grey chicks began to grow and mature
"We'll never leave each other, of that we are sure."
They began to grow older, wiser and beautiful
Loyal, empathic, loving and dutiful.

Slowly but surely with each passing day
The grey feathers fell out, sloughing away.
The chicks which started out so scrawny and slight
Were now tall and magnificent, breathtakingly white!

They nurtured and cherished, they loved and they cared
Each and every second granted to them was shared
Spending their nights with white wings unfurled
Nothing painful could penetrate their world.

These two chicks were now beautiful Swans
Together, forever, for many eons
Thanks to their love, and the wings broad and long
They sing together their clear loving song

After building their home, their cozy white nest
They lay down together to sleep and to rest.
"Oh darling, oh darling, my darling, Thank You
I see how much you Love me, and know I Do too."

Nothing could separate these two now
Nothing and no one would ever know how
Their love and their bond, the connection so strong
Not one, nor the other, could do any wrong

Swans mate a long time, swans mate for life
Through happiness and sorrow, through joy and through strife
Swans pick their soulmates to last them forever
Their hearts always beating in one time together

We fly higher and higher, up and above
My Darling Big Swan, you are my true Love.
Matthew Louis Simpson, my darling, my dear
Through loving each other, our one path is clear.

Author's Note

I wrote this poem for my boyfriend as a Valentine's Day gift in 2009. As it was our second anniversary yesterday, I thought I'd share this with the world today.

Reviews

[Larry Dyson]

Each and every second granted to them was shared
Spending their nights with white wings unfurled
Nothing painful could penetrate their world.

reminds Me of the picture you included...chicks on the back...saw them laying eggs in Mazatlan,Sinaloa..at christmas time..excellent choice for symbolism..

[Sam Freeland]

Your poem is a bridge
that we all can share
Thank you for the opportunity
to help us get there
There is wherever
our life will be more complete
This is never a simple feat
but your poem has been at very fine treat
What your swans have found
is what is everywhare around
It just requires the attention
and find relationships sound