Sorrow's choice

In a time of grief I thought alone
"If I were a bird, what would that be?"
Then listening heard a speaking stone
And hearing listed a talking tree.

"Choose a raven! Evermore!"
Said the stone dressed all in black.
"Select a dove, to underscore,
Faith and hope," the tree said back.

Trees and stones may think they know
But just one being can say the word
That scatters every darkling crow
And leads us to that bluest bird.

I'll wait beside the singing brook
Amidst the rushing water's moan
For the one true avian that took
My sorry heart and led it home.

 
by Samuel A. Southworth