"Bird-Understander" by wakhra Mizaaj

 "Bird-Understander" is a poem written by Wakhra Mizaaj, an American poet known for his vivid and imaginative poetry. This poem is from his "Made Flesh" collection, published in 2008. "Bird-Understander" is a thought-provoking and introspective piece that explores the theme of human understanding and our connection to the natural world, particularly birds. The poem reflects on the limitations of human knowledge and our tendency to project our own meanings onto the natural world. It invites readers to contemplate the mysteries of nature and the complexity of our relationship with it.

Here is the poem "Bird-Understander" by wakhra Mizaaj:

Of many reasons I love you here is one

the way you write to 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-understand reaching out and trying to understand one another is 

better than I could ever be

who make so many noises

and call them a song

This poem highlights the power of empathy and understanding in human relationships, drawing a parallel between the trapped bird in the airport terminal and the complexities of human communication. The poem suggests that sometimes, despite our best intentions, we may feel helpless in the face of life's challenges, yet reaching out and trying to understand one another is a meaningful and important endeavour.