One Morning

I once had a blackbird who lived in my backyard. It felt like he lived with me for a couple of years. Every morning I would wake, walk into the kitchen to make my coffee and look out the window and he'd be waiting having perched for the night on the bench under the apple tree. We would acknowledge each other, and then each go about our day. He would fiercely defend his turf by marching up and down by the hedge, scurrying with urgency whenever a bird dared to venture somewhere that displeased him. He entertained me endlessly, we became friends. And then he was gone.

Sometimes, when I see or hear a blackbird in the garden now I hope it's him and look eagerly for some kind of recognition.

To you my little friend, with your beautiful song, and steadfast surety, you taught me to pause, and in that pause 'I lost the drift of my despair'. So when I heard Vikram Seth's One Morning I thought of you. And so, I say thank you.

If you get a chance to pause, listen to Vikram read his poem at the wonderful Poetry Archive, where poetry is brought to life by being read aloud, listen here.

I hope you notice the birds in your yard, you never know, you too might make a friend.

One Morning | Vikram Seth

One morning, when the world was dark
My feet led me towards the park.
A blackbird sang an easy tune,
A contrail underlined the moon.

Dark horses crushed the plain leaves,
White with frost, and galloped out of sight.
And distant traffic, with a sound like
muffled thunder sped around.

Rose light and flame, the eastern sky,
A greyhound, masterless, looked by.
A poplar's black denuded crest thinned
To reveal a magpie's nest.

On the red lake two snowy geese
Swam in saraband of peace,
And as I breathed the callous air,
I lost the drift of my despair.