Song of the Thrush Bird

by Patricia Gaille Tiu (Grade 11)

a whistling chorus of the thrush
chides me gently to listen, hush
now to the sweet, sweet melody
of a mother ‘bove her aerie
and as I ponder ‘neath her tree –
a picture in burgeoning green,
glistening in the sunshine’s hues,
and buds that bloomed the brightest blues

“how dost the wintry season go
from the grim winds and frigid snow
’til the frostbite air nips at skin,
and chip it does its way within
how dost the harsh and bitter cold
from icy storms to hail unfold
the ghost of yesteryear’s despaired
to the warmth I long ago shared?”

A distant song I heard b’fore
bringing visions I longed adore
the ground unthaws before my eyes
and a sprout begins its uprise
careful and steady, does it climb
to grow a forest, in its time
so here I’ll stay in evergreen
‘neath the whistling thrush and her tree

Graphics by Theone Tiu (Grade 10 – Rizal)