Another Bird, Rising
The shadow behind you slides over
the ceiling, up and gone,
a wingless silence. The drafted swirl.
One morning shifts into two, and still
you won’t give in, each moment’s
gasp another one earned, a measurable
notch on the table’s edge, quarters
in the magic purse. They all count.
Pills, chemo, radiation. Ocean to sky.
Houses to ash. Your eyes see black.
“Another Bird, Rising” first appeared in deLuge in fall 2016.
O at the Edges 
Your poem touched me deeply tonight, a beautiful friend of mine shall not be rising tomorrow. The chemo didn’t rescue her….
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I am so sorry for your loss, Ivor.
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I understand this one only too well. The poem says it all so well. Thankyou
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Thank you.
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Poignant, succinct, unforgettable – was very moved.
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Thank you, Lynne.
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Rather, thank you!
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🙂
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Cool post! Mind checking out my new post? It’s about my YouTube channel!
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I just found this in my spam folder. Dunno why, but thought you’d like to know. And I will check out your post. Thanks.
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Wow, socks blown off, had to go over it several times to savor it.
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Thanks, Jeni. You’ve made my day.
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I’ve lost several friends and family members in the space of a couple of years and many of them to this dreadful scourge, cancer. It’s hard to kill the human spirit and, in some ways, that’s the nature of poetry, too.
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Agreed, Dermott!
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Robert, I would appreciate if you read my poem, Memory, inspired by our exchange of comments, yesterday
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Impeccable timing, Dermott. Just visited and commented.
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Thank you, Robert. I just read your comment and replied.
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The traditional interpretation of souls as birds feels right to me, and your beautiful words gives the feeling wings. (K)
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It’s difficult to give voice to these feelings, but we try.
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Your beautiful words move me deeply.
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Thank you so much Christine. Much appreciated.
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