Pigeon (Homing)

they let the pigeons go
to ward off the
inevitable
they flew out like time wanted
+ rested in trees that
weren't theirs
I didn't see the fleeing
I saw the empty cage
seatbelts + numbers
gone
layers of felt +
apron strings
eons of white dust
she swept hard to keep
them clean
+ fed them eagerly
on the garden finds
they never lost her
I'm sure
like we did
they could climb to
heaven

the pigeons have gone

I was moment's notice
you were gone




come fly the pigeon
come fly the pigeon
come fly the pigeon

home




these wicked
ones
their stone crosses
glisten
+ silly boys play
party tricks
but always bend
the rules

I spied my pigeon
but I wasn't
trigger
happy.




I found my voice
gasping
a foreign air
all smoke + cinder
all pigeon blood

those elegant fowls

never lose their
way




heavy bird
warm + heavy

heavy beat
+ tiny chest

let me
cup your
body bare
against my
breast

let me mountain
the darting
presence

let your
limbs
hang solitude

be still
your
beating
heart




thread the moon
my babushka
my kindred
my slow cold wind
the moon as round as
aces as slow as
glacier
hold the cold moon
with sharp breath
with swallow
with wind
with wine + bread
+ misgivings

she sent them off
for the killing
with sounds in
their voices
blood in their
veins