Cook & Crank: The Cosmic Poetry Podcast

The official podcast of Cosmic Poet Simon Pole. Hear a different poem performed each week in the Cosmic Poet's own authentic, expressive voice, with a short commentary for added enjoyment.

Simon Pole is the author of six volumes of poetry, including the seven-poem epic cycle The Saga of Terminal City. Known for a distinctive brand of writing called Cosmic Poetry, which scales from the everyday to the spiritual heights beyond, Pole is a graduate of Harvard University, and a descendant of early Canadian poet Susie Drury.

He lives in Kingsville, Ontario, on the north shore of Lake Erie.

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Cook & Crank: The Cosmic Poetry Podcast

Fly Little Bird

May 06, 2026 • Simon Pole • Season 1 • Episode 63

0:00 | 2:45

Eventually our children have to leave home, and if we’re lucky they’ll remember us as the ones who loved them. A sonnet read by Cosmic Poet Simon Pole. From the Poems For Ocean collection.

Website: https://simonpole.ca/

Audio Credits: https://simonpole.ca/pages/audio-credits

SPEAKER_00 0:08

Hello and welcome to Cook and Crank, the Cosmic Poetry Podcast. I'm your host, Simon Pole, the Cosmic Poet. We have a sonnet today called Fly Little Bird. These verses are about our children and how raising them renews us even when they are gone far from home. It is a gift and one we hope to receive after the break. Fly little bird. Fly little bird, and on currents take wing, and fly away where the other birds sing, and mix with them there where once at my breast, enfolded by arms, I gave you firm rest, and safety to heal, and felt your heart beat, that was to me like a whisper that's sweet of unguarded love, though words you spoke not, and now as you fly I wait here forgot, but some day pray I when fledges there be, and merry hoarse play abounds at your knee, I might come to mind, and then you might bless in one fleeting thought the man gentle eyed, whose own wounded heart alone nearly died, but by you revived in care and caress. I'm your cosmic poet and host, Simon Pole. Visit the website SimonPole.ca for more cosmic poetry, including the book we've just read from. We'll be back soon on the Cook and Crank Podcast with more readings from the Poems for Ocean collection. Until then, remember, poetry is the water of life, though whiskey might be too. Goodbye.