The idea for “Migrate” occurred to me at a tiny, local concert. It doesn’t matter what I thought of the band’s performance as a whole, but from it came the spark of an idea. The lyrics brought to mind the image of an open ocean, and on it, I imagined a single white feather. From this came the line “feathers falling on the sea.”
This poem is about the intimacy of letting go, and the trust that leads to the hope of a return. This takes the physical form of a bird, but can be meant as so much more.
An easy connection is to another human, as we are social creatures. Sometimes, freedom comes in the form of breaking ties, whether or not we ever wish to return. This could be the end of a relationship, the growing and departure of a child, a loved one traveling without us. The applications are many, but the feeling is the same. We let go with the hope that the other will return, and in that return is a special closeness that was never there before.
And through it all, we leave our mark on one another, feathers left behind every step of the way, showing our progress.
Stay tuned for more “Behind the Poem” entries throughout the month of April, and if you want a sneak peek at tomorrow’s poem, check my Patreon. (It’s free!)
Happy reading,
Sibyl