Sympathetic Magpies by William J. Harris

[conuly]

There is an old Chinese legend
About a weaving girl and a cowherd
Falling in love and being punished
By Heaven because she was celestial
And he was a mere mortal

Heaven only allowed them to meet
Once a year
On the seventh day
Of the seventh month

The magpies were so sympathetic
Each year
On that day
They made themselves
Into a bridge
Stretching across the Milky Way
So the lovers could kiss

Poems are sympathetic magpies
Bridges between lovers
Bridges between selves
Bridges between worlds

Link

Comments

[offcntr]

Have you read Barry Hughart's Bridge of Birds? Lovely fantasy novel inspired by the same legend.

[conuly]

I have it, uh, *somewhere* in this house, but I've never gotten around to reading it!

[mama_kestrel]

It's a wonderful book.

[adafrog]

Sad, though.

[conuly]

I mean, maybe? They've been meeting once a year for a very large number of years.

[adafrog]

Ah.