ABSCOND

There's something almost perfect in the ugly duckling syndrome. Because a sensitivity is tattooed on a part of you no one else can see but somehow guess its there

Abscond

He knew it will soon come to this

but it took him another winter of dead cold silence

before he realized that the forest had changed

Almost everyone he knew left the tree

Their nest abandoned and the seeds he shared

with them were untouched and scattered

He forced himself to catch a few hours of sleep

amid the unusual absence of cool breeze

that gently rocked his tree branch

A reclusive owl stood nearby 

whose deep perceptive eyes kept a close vigil

of an impending egress

Her mournful calls echoes through the bare forest

as if lamenting for something 

only she alone knew

With most of the residents fled

without notice

She however had kept his last remaining days 

somewhat bearable

As he reminisced the good old days

A flock of migrating geese momentarily pierced

the eerie silence of the night 

as they passed over his tree

They too were heading south

He, like the ugly duckling

wish, to be up there with them in the sky

To join their graceful flight

But he'd soon break camp at dawn

Yet still wondered if the few morsels of seeds

he had left would be enough

to last him through his next journey

At twilight he roused from his resting place

Though his heart was heavy,

his wings sturdy and tested

to bear the burden

he alone had been entrusted

    to carry ...

by NeiL ArandA 06/16/2015

 

Author's Note

The Ugly Duckling is a classic story by Hans Christian Anderson about a misplaced egg who hatched in a wrong family. Though he was accepted and loved by his surrogate mother. He spends many unhappy years ostracized by the other animals in the farm before he grows into a beautiful and magnificent swan.

Thoughts and writing inspired by Kalypso, Eva Rosehill, Aethereal

Reviews

[Ghost of Jupiter]

This is truly a wonderful yet sad piece speaking wistfully of those who have flown away... But remember there are always those birds who use the same migration flight paths back to their same nesting spots every season. Sometimes all one has to do is be patient for their feathered hearts to find their way back to their familiar and missed trees. :)

Beautiful poem my friend.... Your writing has shown such an amazing leap into emotional and metaphorical imagery. Well done! :D

[NeiL ArandA]

" Be patient for their feathered hearts to find their way back to their familiar and missed tress. " I'll remember that line K ... Its always good to see you around again sweet friend. There's plenty of room and space in the Sparrow's tree.

[Faceless Poet]

i was in a place to where
i reek of old grease
an abnormality i have
no one has seen it
or i just don't dare
to understand them

life is pretty clear to where
i belong,
yet I remain strong.

the beauty of not minding
their business
has it good perks.

just seeing what's good
in my company.

in the end
everything will
come into place
as long as you
wait
patiently
with devotion
to your moral righteousness...

[NeiL ArandA]

Wow FP you can truly weave some very good lines here. Thanks for reading this one.

[Faceless Poet]

:)😊😊😊😊

[gabrielle]

Ah, contemplating before making the escape. I initially co-related this piece to the trend of some of our friends leaving this WC for another site. But as i go on, it may mean something more profound and more significant. Re author's note, family is not all about blood connection, it is more of a commitment.

[NeiL ArandA]

I think you perceived more than what you want to express here Gab. :) It's inherent and universal to every human being to feel the need to belong regardless of who they are and what creed they represent and believe.

As far as leaving. We are all familiar with the saying " It's sometimes greener on the other side of the field " so some are enticed to graze on the other side and to see what they can offer them. Others have personal reason only they alone know. Some prefer to stay in one spot and blossom where they have been planted. It's a matter of personal preference and who gives the most motivation to improve our writing skills. In my personal opinion WC is still the best poetry site there is and many may disagree with me but that is what I think and feel. And the poets and writers that supported and stayed with me since I first came to this place are still around though many left and were gone. The best are still around, deeply rooted and obviously blossoming and that made a huge difference and impression about what I previously perceived about why this poetry site is unique and special. It's the few selected people I knew and care about. Even if its few or one. Their friendship and influence upon me weathered and stood the test of time... Thanks Gab..I appreciate your thoughts...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

so much like life, such a good allegory...
and with life there are those friends who make things bearable, even when they are not.

i really like this...

[NeiL ArandA]

As always Jacob am appreciative of your never failing support and patronage. Thanks for dropping by and leaving your kind thoughts in my page.