Remember When I Knew You

So…
I think I made friends with a red-winged blackbird
I sit by the river and I speak in bird words
We whistle back and forth and we speak in bird terms

That’s what seems
To be happening
Anyway

I walk away and he follows and floats
And flutters
So close
Landing on branches, in trees, near my feet
Fluttering and floating and chirping at me

Singing to me
Closer and closer
He keeps getting braver and closer to me

Louder and louder
He chirps
And he speaks
Little bird squeaks from his little bird beak
Louder and closer
It grows like I know, like my own fucking beat
And ya…

I get it
I look mad
Walking the streets
Without my safety hat

Talking to birds
And thinking I heard
A voice
Communication
Trust
A choice

In his three note verse
Mixed
With chirps
And other bird words

I get it
I’m mad

When I don’t whistle back
He gets ruffled some more
More aggressive before
He gets louder and louder
And shorter some more

I feel the frustration
My little bird friend

But that’s how perception can
Blind me and bind me
And make me believe all the times I’ve been lying

That dictates the scene when I’m being lied to

Which side of the coin
Becomes mine and then no more

Flip and win
Direct and spin it
And we’ll see what reality bleeds in it

We’ll see what we really believe in

I think I know what’s happening
But who knows what he really means
I know the words but don’t speak bird
And birds have territorial wings

Maybe I insulted him
And now he’s giving it to me
And showing me the way out when I leave

Telling me to get the fuck away from his tree
And maybe his babies

Reminds me of the time I thought I knew you