A swift circled the blue, blue sky,
another joining a long pilgrimage,
journeying through jagged mountains.
countries and places endangering
their fragile, feathered lives. Those
arriving are welcomed. Watching
their flight we raise happy faces to
a cerulean heavens of their grace.
====
Travelling thousands of long miles,
they, like each refugee seek shelter,
they like each fleeing children hunger,
each family on a life and death journey.
Crippled by costs arrive here, but
while the swift scythes the air, they
are caught, caged, called criminal.
—–
The swift will leave and take the
treacherous journey home where
life and death threaten their flight.
While the refugee weeps, and will
never know freedom to dance, nor
the beauty of a downward spiral,
and the uplift of the arcing bird.
