Other Feathered Things

        little bird.
Little fragile feathery
flustered thing.
        I have been
        waiting for you
for all of my life. I have been
buying birdseed and letting the bread
go stale. I caught all the crickets,
I gave away the cats.
i have been waiting
        in this dark
room with my hands cupped
like a supplicant to dust.

little bird
I try not to
        know
that you will
        not
live long
because you will have many friends and
maybe
you will never
        hurt
anyone.
your small talons will scratch
my fingers, when you come, and i
will rejoice.

if I keep you in a cage
        you'll never
        find me.
if i leave you alone I'll never
have anything to
show.