Bird Of The Night Poem by Gert Strydom

The blackbird of the night
covers the sky
and it’s rather dark
as if the stars are dim
and on this night some are gone
and there’s something electric blue
in its colouring.

Maybe the feathers
of a white breasted crow
with some clouds here and there,
some would say

or something more menacing
than a type of raven
is tonight in the air,
like a vulture
or some kind of giant eagle
with huge ripping claws,

but to me there’s lightning
that I see reflected in its coat
with blue-white bolts
flashing down suddenly

and later when the rain is gone
the sweet notes of a songbird
is in the air
and maybe the bird
in the sky tonight
is a very special one
that only exists in my mind.