The Birdie Song

Consider the crow,
so rarely praised,
feathers like nightfall,
rough voice like a saw—

I knew a crow once,
he followed me home,
I fed him some linseed,
he brought me a bone.

Have you seen that flock, circling wide?
Have you seen that flock, nowhere to hide?

Consider the woodpecker,
crested in fire,
speckled like ashes,
long beak like an awl—

I knew a woodpecker once,
he perched on my hand,
I gave him my body,
he drilled me a home.

Have you seen that flock, circling wide?
Have you seen that flock, nowhere to hide?

Consider the dove,
everyone’s love,
feeble as moonlight,
a phantom in guise—

I knew a dove once,
I opened his cage,
he chirped for a moment,
and then flew away.