Ode To a Skylark

Ode To a Skylark

Isn't it a lovely scene!
Flowers swaying on the breeze,
Ignoring the droning nosy bees,
Foliage is green, lush and dense,
Vanes cuddling the bramble fence.
Shh, my heart, hold and hark,
There I spot my skylark!
Come, birdie, sing me a lay,
I'm tired of that jabbering jay,
But, tell me where you have been?

Have you forgotten your promise
That you had made the last May,
How I cherish that fateful day!
When you stared longingly at me,
As if asking for my company,
And said, 'Listen, I'll take
You to that unique mountain lake,
Where dwells a solitary swan,
Who sings at the break of dawn,
To him I will take you, O miss.'

But soon the spring was sadly over,
Autumn came to brown the leaves,
Stalks were bundled in clumsy sheaves,
Then hoary winter came along,
Determined to stay for very long,
The sun rose late in the East,
Fearful of the morning mist,
Trees became leafless, lean and sad,
Mourning the glory they lately had,
You too weren't seen at my door.

But, spring is here and so are you!
Now for our friendship's sake,
please take me to that distant lake,
Ask a fairy to use her charm
To make me small without any harm
Like those Lilliputian things
So that I'll sit on your wings,
Together let us merrily fly
across the span of the smiling sky
Until that lake is in clear view.

Put me gently there on the ground,
I will tiptoe to the languid lake,
Hope that swan is wide awake,
Basking in the morning light,
His white plumage shining bright,
Will he give us a warm welcome,
Or frowning at me, become glum?
No, no, he will welcome us,
And sing his song without any fuss.
Hope there isn't any other sound!...

Oh, but why are you flying away,
Leaving me in tears and dismay?

© Portia Burton