Death of Klinghoffer - Act 1, Scene 2; Those Birds Flying Above Us
Adams, John
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Those birds flying above us
These landing on the ship's railing
Not migrating
Doesn't the earth belong to them?
Revisiting their lands
Carrying traces of mist
From their latest approach
To the cusp of the firmament
Their shadows burnt on the cloud front
In circles of brightness
In witness
Leaving a trace of dust on the cloud
Messengers of God
Angels freed to marry and die
Children of day, night's predators
Favorite creatures
Chosen and endowed
Whose gratitude
Shames the holiest of men
The least among their kind
Being unbound and free from sin
The eagle, the falcon
The crow and raven
The sparrow, the wren
The dove, the pigeon
The stork and the heron
Alike being clean in the sight of heaven
These and many more
Travel through each layer of the atmosphere
With no desire or need of war
Ritual song defends their nesting grounds
In each country through which they fly
They are at ease and recognize
Particular trees
The shapes of hills
City walls and other details
The oblong hole where a brick fell
Lined with grass and wood
The sun will rise soon
I would like to see the dawn
From my window
As things stand now
This will not be an easy day