Another Bird, Rising

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.

23 thoughts on “Another Bird, Rising

  1. This is stunning. Just stunning and elegant, even as it speaks of loss. Not only are the images captivating, but I can appreciate the silence between the words and lines, and stanzas. This is truly gripping.

    Liked by 3 people

  2. Pingback: a grumpy gift: Another Bird, Rising — O at the Edges | hands in the garden

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