SILENT BIRDS by Nicole Ayala

The world hasn’t been the same since I last heard your laugh.

Suddenly the Earth shifted,

my heart is at half-mast.

The day you died,

the birds were silent.

The air stood still, the sky turned violent.

I cried for you

to each cloud that drifted by,

because I never learned a proper goodbye.

Knowing you’re there, and I’m here,

this has always been my top fear.

My friend, my home, my wild hair,

life isn’t nice, it isn’t fair.

So I’ll search for you in everyone I see,

but until then, you’re set free.