Pinioned Prescriptions:  Two Sonnets

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            Ornithological Therapy

If birds obliged, they might resolve to aid

Us in disorders of the heart and mind.

The robin might come hopping from our shade

And offer us some happinesses signed

A Robin bird- Captured Live in Nature Hopping Around Near a Body of Water birds inc. (youtube.com)

In orange and pertness, hop, hip, jump.  The voice

Of blackbird in the gloaming of the day

Could tempt to perk up, or perhaps rejoice

At least a little, even skip, sashay

Like in a square dance as a treatment step.

The swooping of the swallows up above

Might elevate us towards them, add the pep

We need inside our ribs as a feathered love.

  The singing of the mockingbird, not quite

     Unending, might shift down the threat of night.

     The Bird World Blazes Hope

The pheasant claims that dust does not exist

By showing us his metal feathers, bronze

And gold — and gild-like copper, feathers kissed

With optimism.  Then the river swans

Raise up white wings to wave the sunlight slant

And send it to their hearts and ours.  The barn

Owl answers with a night-time white to chant

With whitest doves, the whites in spun out yarn

Connecting moon and morning in their whites.

The lark adds music to the hours of sky

Competing with the nightingale in flights.

The songs and skimming teach us we should fly.

  The ruby-throated hummingbird does more.

    It teaches wondering hearts and souls to soar.

~ Phillip Whidden