I stand at the open window listening to the robins, sparrows, wrens, and cardinals twitter, tweep, cheep, and trill as they tune their instruments, getting them just right to perform the sun salutation. The mockingbird rehearses his aria, long warbled phrases, chirrups, and chirrs. The birds perch high in the tall oaks and maple trees so that their voices echo, breaking the quiet of the early morning. I savor the moment. Soon, black clouds will come, the sky will weep, and the birds will take shelter in those wind-whipped high branches. I will gather then with others; together, we will express our sorrow to a grieving widow and children, and, say good-bye to a friend.
Spring a chimera–
rosy petals bloom, then fall
silver tears of rain
“Seen on KSC grounds, a robin pauses in a Brazilian pepper tree filled with red berries.”
NASA, via Wikipedia Commons, Public domain
For Colleen’s Tanka Tuesday, using synonyms for belong and dream
For Frank’s Haikai challenge, using “twittering.”
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
beautiful
Thank you very much.
I’m sorry for your loss.
Thank you, Janet. My friend has been through a lot.
Merril this is such a beautiful poem, I adore writing and reading about birds, those fragile delicate metaphors , this sad ending moved me deeply. Your poetry is always so beautiful and meaningful. 🌹
Thank you so much, Holly. I appreciate your kind words. I’m glad my poem touched you.
It’s truly beautiful!
Thank you!
Beautiful
Thank you, Beth.
I see what you mean now. The exact reasons aren’t the same, but the underlying truth is there. I’m sorry for your black clouds, and when they pass the grief will remain, but the birds will help give meaning to the life that goes on.
Yes, thanks, Jane. I was actually mixing the literal and the metaphorical (as one does 😉 ). This morning it was bright and sunny, and now the actual dark clouds are moving in. The grief isn’t really mine, but I feel so bad for my friend.
Then it is grief. Empathy is like that.
🙂
That morning chorus is a reminder that another day has come, another day will come. If you think about it, a similar chorus announced another day, and another, when there was not sadness, and so this morning acts as a reminder of that time.
That is true. Thank you, Ken.
A beautiful elegy. The symbolism of birds as soul or spirit carriers is so apt. (K)
Thanks so much, Kerfe.
So sorry for your loss. A good haibun.
Thank you!
Beautiful, musical, description of the birdsong, and nice rain metaphor. My thoughts go out to your friend and her children
Thank you, Derrick.
Reblogged this on Frank J. Tassone and commented:
#Haiku Happenings #4: Merril’s latest #haibun for Colleen’s Weekly Poetry , and my own #haikai , challenge!
Gorgeous! I love the imagery! ❤
Thank you, Colleen!
Welcome! ❤
I’m sorry about your friend, Merril. The birds are a reminder of life left for the rest of us.
Yes, Luanne. Thank you.
The ending startled and paralleled so well the weather/bird images. Very effective.
Thank you very much, Victoria!
Sorry for the loss of a friend (?) and husband, father of children, too. Funerals are hard for me, I dread the moments there but I do feel better having gone. The photo was a fine addition to the prose paragraph and nice haibun you wrote.
Thank you, Robin.
It was a friend whose husband died. It was not unexpected, as he’s been sick for quite a long time, and I’m sure they’re happy he’s no longer suffering. But it’s still sad.
Pingback: #Haikai Challenge #33 (5/12/18): Spring Rain (harusame)/Autumn Rain (aki no ame) #haiku #senryu #haibun #tanka #haiga #renga – Frank J. Tassone
Another beautiful haibun, Merril. We should have left all the tweeting to the birds, I think. They do it best.
I’m so sorry for your loss.
Thank you so much, Robin.
Yes, I agree about the tweeting!
Pingback: #Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge Recap, “Belong & Dream,” NO. 82, #SYNONYMSONLY – Colleen Chesebro ~ The Fairy Whisperer