Watching a blackbird strutting on the lawn as
he filled his beak I thought how striking
he looked and the idea for the poem was born.
I wrote it using a combination of
alliteration and Dylan Thomas,
from whom I beg abject forgiveness..
BLACKBIRD
When I was young and handsome as a blackbird
Life was for loving and love was for living
And my merry monarching butterfly mind
Went rollicking bollicking over the town.
I took all the girls, undid them with words
Most of them borrowed, a few of them mine,
Wandering, and willing the world to surrender
I danced and I sang oblivious of time.
But time couldn't wait, wouldn't wait, couldn't wait
To swat down my arrogant flying by night,
And now near the end of my merrysweet song
I know that all loving and living is right
But treacherous time has tricked me somehow
And worms will feast on the blackbird now.
