Blackbird’s Return

A song of spring, a song of sorrow…

Illustration by author.

It was a bright morning in springtime when your father sailed away from me. I ran to the headland out in the bay and watched the boat leave, just stood there, didn’t wave or nothing. The crew was rushing about the deck like ants, but I saw a man standing at the stern, looking back to shore. It was too far to see anything but a shape, maybe it was your father saying his goodbyes, maybe some other sailor? I couldn’t say for certain.

All those months I waited, hoping every day, praying every night for his return. The ship was bound for the archipelago and back. We’d all heard tales of those treacherous waters, the Death Straits is what some sailors call them. But I was young then, flushed with first love, full of hope. I’d given my whole heart to him that last week before he went away. I’d loved him in secret for many years before that though (I only had eyes for your father).

As the weeks passed by, I started getting pains and changes and I was getting bigger. I realised I had his baby on the way — we made you on that last week together. I was lucky I didn’t show too much otherwise I would have got a hiding from your Grandfather. But I was excited to have my little one, to hold you in my arms.

Now the waiting was worse. I was desperate to see your father again, but I was nervous he’d turn away when he…