Kay Middleton
Publication
Feathers
No longer the feather she used to be
her breath still sings a song in fretful air
a song like wings beating summers searing
a memory song in weighty boots
in the wet snow of winters’ waste
a song too early for the pale tips of spring
or moist brown earth or pink sunsets
a song preceding mating melodies
her desire to rise early or to try to love again
it becomes a chorus of excuses, stamps
in faded colors from distant places
repetitive refrains of rain, sleet and tears
a song like that of the mourning dove
Published in Five Fishes Journal in February 2010
