I searched my mind as the swifts arched high
Seeking truth in random rumination
Like flies caught and eaten on migration
My judgement warned by screeches of those swifts
To seize opportune moments as gifts
And purge worries with fascination
In a scythe-winged aerial thought-filled sky
My perception of reality shifts
This poem is inspired by Wild Swans by Edna St. Vincent Millay. I liked the reflective tone and the unusual rhyme. It is easy to get wound up by thoughts we recycle endlessly – the what-ifs, if-only and other bits. Focusing on good things happening here and now and appreciating the lives of other beings helps me deal with unhelpful thoughts. It’s dedicated to my friend, Penny, who also loves swifts and would see them at the end of their migration when she lived in Cameroon.
September 2023 is Blood Cancer Awareness Month. It is also Child Cancer Awareness Month. Every day 10 children in the UK are diagnosed with cancer. Of those lucky enough to survive, many will have long-term side-effects that may significantly impact their lives forever.
I am posting one poem per day to recognise this and raise money for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. This charity provides sailing and other outdoor adventures for children and young people aged 8-24 who have been treated for cancer. But it’s more than that. There’s a package of support around this including siblings, return trips, volunteering opportunities and so on. The Trust also works hard to ensure their work is environmentally sustainable. You can make a donation HERE!
I keep reading “gifts” as “gifs” haha. Sorta works?!
This poem is brilliant. It’s also my growing edge. “Like flies caught and eaten on migration”. #handclaps
Swifts calling is so distinctive, evocative words 🥰