How Many Birds Followed Each Other To Earth—a Song Poem by Birgitta Abimbola Heikka

Akin, small and singular, stood outside his house
counting birds when he heard his father ask:

'How many birds flew down to earth today?
Akin, how many birds followed each other to earth? '

'I saw two
One was dark as indigo
The other, colored as blood.
Down and down they swoop
Slow and slower they drop.'

'How many birds swooped down to earth today?
Akin, how many birds dropped down to earth? '

'I saw one as white as an angel
And another glittering like gold
Down, and down, they lunge
Slow and slower they plunge.'

'How many birds lunged down to earth today?
Akin, how many birds plunged down to earth? '

'One was brown as tea, I think
The other as small as a bee
I heard one whistling
And another was rapid as lightening.'

'How many birds altogether flew down to earth today?
Akin, tell me how many birds followed each other down to earth'

'Zero bird flew down to earth
Father, zero bird followed each other down to earth.'

He walked sadly back into the house and announced
'They've all flown back into the sky.'