Primordial Beaks Before Our Daybreak

   Primordial Beaks Before Our Daybreak

The songbirds hop among the flowers, upon

The ground, and on the branches of the trees

And branchings of the roses.  In dark dawn

They wake to turn their heads and search through breeze

And whispering sunrise for their early songs—

And blankness is transformed by notes and light.

They turn and turn their heads and each one longs

For inspiration for its swooping flight

And melody.  Birds turn and turn their eyes

And sing and sing while searching for a glint

Of memory for their ancient past.  Each flies

In search of reptile history, just a hint

Perhaps of when as dinosaurs they ran

And soared above a planet lacking man.

Phillip Whidden