I Wish I Had Followed Her
She seems so large, this blackbird,
Watching me with a gleaming eye.
At first I mistake the roll of light for her pupil
But her eyes are not mine.
She watches my approach and does not move for me.
I was on my way to bed,
Tired and cold, trudging and laden.
The blackbird cut across my path,
Crooked, slow, picking her black-hole way
Across a sparkling white universe of snow.
Her sleek darkness plucks at me as we draw even,
A moment of linear unity, but then she moves away,
Shuffles diagonally through the starry snow.
I can follow her. I can walk in her small pointed prints.
I can trace behind whatever comet trail she leaves.
I take one hesitant half step and straddle the choice:
Bed or bird. Sinking down or sailing up.
Flicking a glance over her shoulder, the blackbird flies
And I am left alone on my sidewalk,
A cold, starry blanket all around me.
Watching me with a gleaming eye.
At first I mistake the roll of light for her pupil
But her eyes are not mine.
She watches my approach and does not move for me.
I was on my way to bed,
Tired and cold, trudging and laden.
The blackbird cut across my path,
Crooked, slow, picking her black-hole way
Across a sparkling white universe of snow.
Her sleek darkness plucks at me as we draw even,
A moment of linear unity, but then she moves away,
Shuffles diagonally through the starry snow.
I can follow her. I can walk in her small pointed prints.
I can trace behind whatever comet trail she leaves.
I take one hesitant half step and straddle the choice:
Bed or bird. Sinking down or sailing up.
Flicking a glance over her shoulder, the blackbird flies
And I am left alone on my sidewalk,
A cold, starry blanket all around me.