For world Poetry Day - Passenger Pigeon

 

Passenger Pigeon

You dwelt in the vastness of the sky

with no fear of the hungry eagle,

he couldn’t harm you in your millions.

 

You swarmed across the wild prairies

no fear of the mighty bison,

those couldn’t harm you in your millions.

 

You  soared over the Rocky Mountains

no fear of the grey wolf pack,

that couldn’t harm you in your millions.

 

You  nested in the red oak trees

no fear of the long-legged bobcat,

she couldn’t harm you in your millions.

 

You  flapped above the people’s villages

no fear of the families in their tepees,

these couldn’t harm you in your millions.

 

You  flocked above the steaming railroads

no fear of the well-armed hunter,

but he destroyed you, all of your millions.

*

The Passenger pigeon was once thought to be the most numerous bird on earth. The last of them died in Cincinnati Zoo in 1912. Humans had named her Martha.