BIRD IN THE MIRROR

IN THE CORNER
BEHIND THE FERNS
IS A MIRROR
PLACED BY CHANCE
AND CIRCUMSTANCE
TO REFLECT THE
PRIVATE GARDEN
DARK AND LIGHT,
DAY AND NIGHT
IT JUST IS,
WAITING FOR A
COMPANION WHO
ARRIVES EARLY
EACH MORNING
AND SCOOTS QUICKLY
ACROSS THE FLOOR
TO A SOFT GREEN
SPACE FILLED WITH
SHOOTS AND BUDS
HIDDEN AWAY IN THE
QUIET, WAITING TO
HAVE A DAY
IN THE SUN,
BUT NOW HE’S BEGUN
TO BOUNCE
AND TAP
AND POUND,
THINKING THE
REFLECTION HE SEES
IS THE DOORWAY
TO HEAVEN,
WHERE ALL THE
SWEET LOINS OF
PLANTING AWAIT
FOR HIM ALONE,
I HEAR HIS RADICAL
NOISE EVERY DAY,
A CROSS BETWEEN A
PING AND A PONG,
RADIATING SLIGHTLY
ENOUGH TO BE OBVIOUS,
I PEER OUT TO WATCH
AS HE FLINGS HIMSELF
TIME AFTER TIME
TOWARD THE IMAGE
HE BELIVES IS A SECRET,
A HAVEN TO BUILD A NEST
AWAY FROM THE REST
WHERE NOBODY WILL
HARM OR ALARM HIM,

AND ALAS, I OBSERVE
IN A KIND OF TERROR
NOT KNOWING WHETHER
TO LAUGH OR CRY,
HE WILL EXHAUST HIMSELF
AFTER AWHILE
AND RETURN THE NEXT DAY
READY AGAIN
TO ATTACK THE PORTAL
HE DREAMS OF,
AS IF BIRDS DREAM,
AND I KNOW THE
SECRET WHICH WILL
ALWAYS STOP
HIS MARCH,
THE ILLUSION OF
DESIRE,
A FANTASY MIRROR
HE DOESN’T UNDERSTAND,
AND FLAILING AROUND
MY HEART BREAKS
FOR HIM,
UNTIL IT DAWNS
ON ME
THAT THE REAL TASK
IS NOT THE HAVEN
HE SEEKS
BUT THE EFFORT TO
REACH IT,
TIME AFTER TIME,
WHAT A GAME
AND FUN TO TRY AGAIN,
IT IS THE STORY OF
NATURE AND MAN,
ALL OF US LIVING
CREATURES,
TRYING AGAIN
AND AGAIN…