Even at first glance, this poem is not just about birds. I first got the idea for this poem from U.S. history and the event of slavery. However, I knew I didn't just want to write about it, but I felt that I should symbolically illustrate it. The idea to use birds came to me when I heard a friend talking about a dove being the sign of purity, or peace. My mind immediately made the connection to my work in progress. In the end, not only did I want to depict the horrors of slavery, but I also wanted to pass on this message to readers; problems like these (slavery, discrimination) do indeed exist in the world. By remembering the past, we can help to mend the wounds that history has torn into humanity's legacy. However, we can only mend them when we begin to understand each other. In order to do this, we must push aside our differences, which I assure you is no simple task. So let's take a first step. Let's view this world with open minds and open hearts. Many people in this world, including myself, dream of a future when, without malice towards one another, we can finally work together.
It is our job to make that a reality.