Of A Mockbird Poem by Jean Mallette

The cooling breath of evening rests
About the mock bird's prided nest
Where tiny creatures void of fear
Sleep cradled 'neath a watchful ear.

Their fragile home of moss and string
Rests sheltered 'neath a loving wing;
Sits guarded 'neath a weary eye
That closeth not nor asketh why.

For even this, a simple bird,
Must bear the pangs that Life has stirred;
Must know the duties of her place
And tend them all with noble grace.

Her envied wings must tire with use,
Yet still her tasks she shan't refuse,
As from the heavens to the earth,
She bears the bond she's born since birth.

She bears the fate of duty's call
To rise on ready wings or fall.
The carefree sky, she leaves behind
For 'tis the earth she knows to find,

Where's sought the strength that molds her young
And sets sweet music to their lungs.
And though her heart may come to love
The pleasures of that world above

Her nature speaks in louder strains,
'Forsake not what to thee remains! '
O, 'tis by Nature's God all things
Must rise upon entrusted wings;

Must bravely build a fortress for
The blessings Nature has in store.
For though the day of toil remains
Unending through such selfless gains,

The calm of night brings gladness nigh
Unto the mock bird's weary eye
As o'er her treasured lot she'll gaze
In silent pride and glowing praise;

And peace shall find the watchful ear
As mid the pause of night she'll hear
The restful sounds of breathing sway
Like music at the end of day.

And once again her heart shall know
The joyous song of long ago-
The song her lilting lungs once pealed
When Spring had left her heart revealed.

The life of bird is not all song,
Nor weightless wings to glide along
In idle play aloft the breeze
Succumbing nought but to her ease.

The life of bird is toil abreast
Those noble wings that shield her nest;
That brave the winds and rains to find
An ort for those she's left behind.

'Tis weary eyes that fast grow dim
Through work that tires her winged limbs,
And caution ridden ears that hear
In every sound a cause to fear.

'Tis days and nights that have no end
Save for that moment's rest she spends
In praising God for having blessed
Her with the life that fills her nest.