second chances

What would you do when life gives you a second chance at happiness? Here's a verse I wrote how an aging couple finds a novel way to reintroduce happiness in their life.

two young birds
by their love united
exchanged holy vows
by the elders they were blessed 

the flock demanded care
nests had to be built
they worked with hands bare
days and nights rolled past

machines of life kept whirring,
in fighting a recurring war
frowns kept widening
smiles became rare

pushed away in deep drawers
love took a massive hit
winding roads and extending clovers
knotted their lives, bit by bit

the flock slowly flew away to places farther
leaving behind a haunting void, hard felt
deserted was the rainbow bower,
scarred by time's furious welt

devote yourself to chanting and prayer
recklessly they were told, 
silver dots your thinning hair
it's not long before, forever out you fold

it hit low, it hit hard
can we, would we give up so easily?
a new passion was soon rekindled
a new plan was sketched briskly

barren fields, a scarred sea face
scant aquifers drew their attention
deprived, denigrated - God's own kids
found a home in their heart's mansion

nature showered generous bounties
butterflies, birds did a happy dance
a different love sated the parched hearts, 
when life offered a golden second chance.

•