Bird-Understander

While thinking of what type of poem to write about, I came across this poem called, Bird-Understander, I had no idea what it would be about. The title drew me in and made me want to know more.

So who is this bird understander?

In this poem by Craig Arnold, he is writing about his love. He describes a moment that they share together that makes him love her even more. Her compassion and love for a helpless bird at the airport is what makes him fall in love her all the more.

His heart knows hers. He knows that she is compassionate, loving, and a benevolent soul. She feels helpless and sad for the bird, knowing that her words aren't doing a thing for the helpless creature.

For this man, her words are a song that sing to his heart. Her words are the melody and his heart is her instrument. Even as she feels so helpless, because words are just words, he sees that her 'language' is more than just what she has to say.

Bird-Understander

Of many reasons I love you here is one

the way you write me from the gate at the airport
so I can tell you everything will be alright

so you can tell me there is a bird
trapped in the terminal all the people
ignoring it because they do not know
what to do with it except to leave it alone
until it scares itself to death

it makes you terribly terribly sad

You wish you could take the bird outside
and set it free or (failing that)
call a bird-understander
to come help the bird

All you can do is notice the bird
and feel for the bird and write
to tell me how language feels
impossibly useless

but you are wrong

You are a bird-understander
better than I could ever be
who make so many noises
and call them song

These are your own words
your way of noticing
and saying plainly
of not turning away
from hurt

you have offered them
to me I am only
giving them back

if only I could show you
how very useless
they are not

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/52207/bird-understander