Solstice Memory

One dark starless Solstice night
devoid of stars or moon or light,
cross my heart and hope to die,
I saw a blackbird flying high
with wings of flame that fanned the air
and rode the wind to spark the hair
of a woman, meek and mild
who stood beneath holding a child
who seemed to search the sky as though
it held a creed for those below.
It passed two times and then the bird
spiraled higher, but not a word
escaped the lips of those beneath,
pinned  below to earth and heath.
The flames that fell sparked out and died.
The mother took the child inside
and combed the ashes from their hair,
and though that night was splendid rare,
was the fire gleaned from Heaven or Hell?
So mother told me not to tell
about that night the sky was lit
and nothing more was said of it.

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For Wordle 557 the prompt words are: blackbird flame wind time cross me woman meek seem creed search earth  Image by Marek Piwnicki on Unsplash