Fledged Poem by Franklyn Aubrey Mbale

You scurried wild across the creek
A callow little fellow
I couldn't scurry- so I stood here
A callow little fellow- cheering
If you think of coming back
You'll find me a fledged fellow
Cheering callow little fellows scurrying wild
Across the creek you scurried wild across-
And I still can't scurry-
So I stand here where I stood back then
Much less than the one you used to know
The brooks still run down the backyard
The paths still twist through the woods
The hills still have the birds that sang us to sleep
But I think I don't need lullabies anymore
The others you left have since left as well
One after one after one- in your search I'd say
A whole lot new others have come
They raise dust where we raised dust
They scurry where you scurried
They play and dance in the rain too
And I- fledged- cheer them like I cheered you
If you think of coming back you'll find me
The stars and the birds where you left us
Home is right where you left it
But not as you left it

@Gatherwords 2023