Cry of the Hornbill

Cry of the Hornbill

When the skies were still brilliant blue

and myriads of stars adorning the night,

When trees were still leafy green

and fruits were abundant for all to dine.

It was a tale passed down from time to time.

Only generations passed, and we have seen its worse.

There were once, thousands of us,

and now I can barely spot another me.

Trees are crumbling down each day, 

animals being hunted down or chased away,

I flew from trunk to trunk,

 just hoping to see another day.

Foods are scarce, home are even hard to find.

I'm fortunate to find a nest, 

make it comfy, to shelter from the violent world

for my partner and my future generations.

Sometimes, even at night I dream of the sound 

of the heart-tearing chainsaw playing on and on.

Sometimes, I was shock from sleep,

just to find my shelter going down in steep.

But I made it through each day,

I don't know how, but I succeeded anyway.

I've heard that we hornbills symbolized strength,

but for me, strength is all I have to live another May.

Some hunt us for our feathers and beaks,

some shot us down just to have a meal to eat,

some hunt us as recreation and fun,

some hunt us, just for the glory of it.

And I thought, I would have another day.

Just hoping through looking for food,

and suddenly all I heard, 

was a gunshot and flame.

I tried to fly but I felt to the ground,

I turned my head around and saw,

five young men, decent enough I thought

to at least spare me some living grounds.

But soon I saw the shimmering knife,

instantly I knew, my time is near if I can't fly.

I hovered and flapped, kicked and cried,

with all my might, but regardless, they got me tied.

With tears running down, I say my goodbyes.

Goodbye to my partner and my newborn chicks,

within a sealed wall in a huge tree trunk,

waiting for me to fetch home some food and supplies.

With me gone, my chicks wouldn't made it through,

my partner too, cause she's too weak and the wall's too thick.

I wiped my last tears, for I have to die,

 I'm sorry, to all the lives that have to go along.

With blood gushing out relentlessly, 

I made a last cry, 

so loud, it could reach the sky.

A flash came through,

and my bloodstained body,

was immortalized.

-Kyle-

20:13

3.4.2011

(This poem is based on author's own creativity and fictional, thank you)