Vulture in flight. Red Bank Battlefield, May 24, 2019.
Sometimes we dream of birds, in flight, in flight,
they soar far past the sun, in flight, in flight.
Follow hawk or geese—the height, the height–
there see towering clouds, in flight, in flight.
What if they were we, soaring out of sight, the sight–
your wing brushes my breast, in flight in flight.
We fly past stars and moon, the light, the light!
Our spirits dance at night, in flight, in flight.
We’re drunk on moonbeams, a rite, a rite
of dream-world gods, in flight, in flight.
Do you question this? Not quite, not quite?
Night visions with stars, in flight, in flight?
But I, writer of dreams, I write, I write
and dream of birds, in flight, in flight.
I took a poetry break from my writing on sexual harassment (because really, I need a break). This is a ghazal for dVerse. It’s a bit different from others I’ve written. For my “signature couplet” I’ve used writer. My birth last name is Schreiber, which means scribe or writer. I took my first line “sometimes we dream of birds” from Sarah Connor’s Eventide story/novel/epic. Thanks, Sarah!
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Wonderfully done, Ms Scribe!
Thank you, Dale!
This is just beautiful Merril!
Thank you so much, Holly!
You are welcome!
🙂
Love the rhythm in this, it’s so positive and uplifting … I almost feel it could be sung.
Thank you very much! I kind of felt like I was singing. 🙂
Absolutely delightful – my imagination went soaring, my heart a-thumping
Thank you! Just what my afternoon needed.
Thank you so much for that lovely comment! I’m so pleased you enjoyed the poem.
I feel like flying flying along with you. The ending couplet works beautifully:
But I, writer of dreams, I write, I write
and dream of birds, in flight, in flight.
Thank you very much, Grace. I’m happy this made you feel like flying along. 🙂
This certainly captures the music of the ghazal (and seems to be in line with the several bird poems I’ve already read). The bird in flight captures our imagination in very poetic way. Our hearts and souls seem to soar as we watch them take flight, fit into formations, circle and get lost in space. Your poem very much realizes that.
Thank you!
Thank you very much, Gay. I do get lost in watching birds. 🙂
If dreams and birds bring you words, I say take flight!
Hahaha. Thanks so much, Ken! 🙂
This is really beautiful, Merril. I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday. I hope your mother is doing better, too.
Thank you very much, Jill. I hope you and your family have a lovely holiday weekend, too.
I really like the double repetition–and of course, birds!. (K)
Thank you, Kerfe! I got a bit obsessed with watching the birds in the park yesterday. 🙂
I do that myself. It’s easy to get lost.
Then I went back this morning, and watched all the baby geese. . . 🙂
I once saw a duck leading her ducklings across 110th street into Central Park. I always wondered where she had nested! Like “Make Way for Ducklings”, traffic was at a standstill (I was on a bus).
So cool. I’m glad the traffic stopped!
nice rhymes. I really liked how it’d sounded.
Thank you very much.
The doubling emphasis is unusual – I like I like. Thanks Merril 😀
Thank you, Susan. 🙂
This was hypnotically engaging Merril. We grounded human’s are fascinated eith flight. A freedom we can not enjoy, without help.
Thank you so much, Rob. That first line came to me a few days ago from Sarah’s line, and then yesterday while I was out walking in the park, I got so absorbed in watching the birds. 🙂
I’m captivated by the imagery, and I love the whole, but in particular “But I writer of dreams …” speaks deeply to me.
Thank you so much. I’m so pleased that my words spoke to you.
They do.
Beautifully done. What an apt maiden name for you
Thank you, Derrick.
Yes, I must have some ancestors who were writers. 🙂
It’s so musical with its free-flowing refrain and many rhymes — the imagery is heartwarming and everything is just so melodic.
Thank you so much, Anmol. I appreciate your kind words.
Oh, that ending couplet! Lovely Merril.
Thank you very much, Linda!
I like this rhyme scheme you’ve used 🙂 It works well, and the repetition of the words in the refrain, like an echo.
Thank you! I’m not sure why that repetition, but it came to me like an Oracle whisper, so I went with it. 🙂
I think she whispered a great idea 🙂
Thank you. 🙂
🙂
How perfect that your birth name describes what you do. This is a fun poem, seems like it could be sung 🙂
Thank you so much! 🙂
Oh, this is a delight! I love the way your extra rhymes work, too.
Thank you so much, Rosemary!
Expertly done as usual. Loved it.
Thank you very much!