Note: This post features a spoken word poem, available to all readers, and an original song available to paid subscribers only.
Back in the early-to-mid 2000’s, when I was a linguist in the Air Force, I used to work the “swing” shift. I’d go in to work at about 2:30 pm and get off around 11 at night. Being young and single, I used to love this because it worked perfectly with my natural Night Owl tendencies.
Often, I would open the window looking out into the courtyard from my little cozy efficiency apartment down in San Antonio, Texas. I’d sit at my computer and make beats, and write poetry.
One night, as I sat there, a bird began singing a sort of melancholy, alone-feeling song. I was so entranced by it that I wrote a poem about it called “NightBird”. A few years later, I rewrote and extended the poem, and came up with the following piece.
It’s all about how that bird’s lonely song echoed and resonated with something within me, and hinted at hidden longings and abilities I might have.
NightBird (a slight return)
3 Nov 07
Lying all alone in the dark Haunted heart someone whispering Quietly insisting that I climb Dark Son waiting for the right moment to shine doing battle with the demons in the back of my mind I want to know the secrets and See all the of the sights Thus do I explore in the still of the night Darkness surrounds me My heartbeat is pounding My spirit leaves my body On the bed sleeping soundly Bursting through the clouds Traveling at Night Speed Silver moon illuminates The shoes on my Night Steed Searching for kindred soul Someone just like me I need to find a home Lonely and alone Watch my prayers rise On the wings of this poem A night bird is calling I think the sky is falling could be I’m rising Wings extended I Be a night bird flying Cutting through the Night sky winging singing screaming so loud that I got your ears drums ringing soul crying sounding Like a night bird singing soul crying sounding Like a night bird singing A night bird winging Escaping from this earthly Shell This earthly hell when I rebel I sing my poems at mad decibles telling my folks to grab they stuff and head for the hills don't worry 'bout Babylon we can always rebuild they burnt my temple down but they can't destroy my will!
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