You took my dreams;

The swallows of my autumn years,

and banished them without a care.

You defiled and destroyed their virgin flight,

ones that remained have migrated to the winter sun.

So hopeful and fresh in the youth of their summer state;

but summer soon passed, and I did not see it happen.

The leaves of youth have fallen and…

the sorrow of winter tears cover them in frost.

I still hear their distant cries,

and the smell of their season.

I have their memories and the calls of their summer song.

So long departed, so far away, but…

I still feel the warmth of their summer.

Goodbye my Swallow friends, may you find

your dreams on a distant shore.

Dreams that are not mine, but can be lived,

once more…

© The Swallow’s Farewell 27/03/2012

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

Violet-green Swallow – Tachycineta thalassina (Photo credit: slobirdr)