Songbird

Sometimes

As I'm walking along my path
The roots of the Earth spring up
They latch on to me
Tighten around my body until blood
Saturates the dirt
Until they drink red wine

And the Earth holds me there

No matter how much I thrash
and claw at the chains
They stay put
They grow tighter
And every good thing drains from me

Then it rains

I lie soaked and soiled
By blood
By rain
By muck
By tears

Where is the sun?
is the sun?
is the sun?
is the sun?

And as if the divine had been waiting
Something made of light
Fills my belly
Births a sound

The sun rises to see the commotion
The Earth inhales, holds its breath
Everything quiets to hear me sing

And from deep within I shrill

For so long
So loud

Until the Earth finally sighs
Until the roots finally loosen

When they latch on to me again
I will answer their call sooner
I will sing their favorite lullaby