Poem – Bathed in Birdsong

Bathed in Birdsong

By Susan Davies

Bathed in Birdsong
Bathed in birdsong, I love this place of peace
Enjoyed the spring here
Which was almost stolen from me, but was in fact, enriched

A little further on the lambs are baaing
Another treasure uncovered
Unseen by me for years

I hope this peace stays with me
When the world returns to 'normal'
This outstanding beauty, a feast for my eyes and ears

And in this place, in this time
Strangers greet each other as friends
Demonstrating a pure sort of love, that gives, just in the moment

About this poem

This short lyric poem from Susan certainly lives up to its titular, alliterative metaphor which so beautifully captures some of the more positive side effects of Covid 19. The Valley is a place of peace and beauty; a world where you can hear lambs rather than the roar of traffic and watch empathy grow between strangers rather than suspicion. Now quiet and still, the Valley is passed back into the nurturing arms of mother nature, becoming an enriching metaphoric feast for the speaker.

The repetition in the opening lines, coupled with the enjambement throughout the poem, enhances the tone of startled wonder as we remember how the world really is when it is allowed to breath.

This page is part of the Blaenau Gwent REACH online exhibition.

Film and audio | Creative writing | Visual art

Digital stories | The history of Blaenau Gwent | About this project