Ralinsha

My Rara Avis

Ah, sky, would that I had been there high

to see my dear rara avis flutter

to look deep into her beautiful eyes

to feel light her silky feathers

to hear closely her mellow chant

to smell full her sweet scent

or even to fly in her endearing adjacent

but I don't have wings like she does

and if I do I don't have nerve like she does

and if I do I don't belong to her class

Ah, sky, would that I could draw thee nigh

as low and narrow as I could defy the laws

so that she might not make flight

higher and farther than my sight

so that she might be nearer

and I might catch and cage her

Ah, sky, but even if thou fall thereby

even if she gets near and nearer

I have no cage decent enough for her

and I don't know into whose cage

she will condescend to descend

but even if she should descend

and stay in some other cage

I still would wish her well

and bid my good farewell

Oh bird, you have got my deeps stirred

by your flying thus far and distant

travelling for places weird

albeit a visitant

Oh bird, what have got you spurred, aren't you tired?

what are you seeking for, haven't you had many an explore?

soaring hither and thither have you been, so low making me feel

many and varied have you seen, so little rendering my zeal

on everything are you keen, so unreal turning my ideal

could it be that you have erred, so long leaving your herd

could it be that you have been lured, so hazy having your vision blurred

Oh bird, when shall I get any word

that you will end your voyage

and come down and remain

in some or other cage

so that I may cease waiting

in my wishful thinking

and be rid of this hopeful pain

and nevermore worried

Ah, sky, could it be that in thine eyes

it is I who have put myself in a cage

and can't reach her low flying by

or rather that I'm too shy

to take her into my life stage

and put her in a binding tie

feeling myself earthly low

whenever she up shows

Ah, sky, hearken this my cry:

to thine care I entrust her case,

wherever she wishes let her fly,

to her should thou always attend

until she decides to stop and descend

whenever it be and into whoseever place;

Ah, yes, sky, be my spy and ally

in thine infinite space and base

guard her against any harm of sunburst, windchill, rainpour, or storm

shade her frame with thy cloud when sun shines too proud

cover her flanks with thy fold when she gets cold

support her wings with thy breeze when she seems to freeze

guide her bearings with thy stars when she gets lost far

catch her feet with thy haul when she's to fall

hold her stance when she's off balance

give her thy tow when she's hovering aimless

show her thy rainbow when she is lingering listless

refresh her body with thy splash when she is faded

respark her soul with thy flash when she is wearied

protect her with thy host of forces when any predator nigh comes

find her an equal mate of thy choice when she looks lonesome

Ah, sky, would that thou could let me have a try

and shown her the way whereby

to my side she should come,

for we together to come;

here in me let her seek refuge

when she finds no cage

here for me be the apple of my eye

when she sees none on to rely

Ah, sky, between thou and I,

let her take a place and stand by

and be thy clue coming true

that thou blew into my inners blue

on that eleventh day of the third month

before my thirty-eighth sun

Oh bird, would that I had been the third

between you and sky, the he, the one, the choosed

I would have invited you to take a rest and come to my place

and seen you vis-a-vis, O my rara avis