The Bird, Escaped

In violent water she rejoiced,
swam with boot strings
around her neck.

I saw her Easter egg, pink bleed
in a cloud. Shaken like dolls.
Her beauty in a box, mine fading.

She's the waves
I crash through, salt
of my tongue and my eyes.

I find a curled leaf
in the water. A whole continent.
Numbers of wreaths tug at my hair.

What I wanted neither
of us knew. Why then did she
act as she did, flying?



Kissless kaleidoscope of my eye,
watch me from your nest!
I clutch these claws.

If I should be a bird, take
my wings, force my beak
into water once more.

Of all my feathers, she said, not one is for you.