the birds could not sing

V.
time became irrelevant
night and day were shrouded
in its monochromia
so the birds could not sing

IV.
the scythe of Death was
neither long nor
sharp enough
so the birds could not sing

III.
air choked on
its own heavy heart
let it cry out
so the birds could not sing

II.
the last one to move
was the last leaf to fall
from the last barren “tree”
so the birds could not sing

I.
silence echoed
hope became desperate
losing its own touch
so the birds could not sing