Rabbit and Rose
he hopped up
from limb to limb
until he could see
the crested hill
where the sun rose
and the sloping rock
which the moon climbed
while stars cut the night sky.
and when he began
to warble his gravelly song
full of polished rocks
that rested on the riverbank
the other birds began
to still their own song
and remember flying
into a red fire sky
the wind lifting them up until
they could no longer
see branch or nest.
some recalled
swooping over the sea
caught in the tailwind of storm
or oil soaked feathers
and the desperate flight
heavy and solemn to land.
but most remembered
their own strut and dance
and spread their colors
pushed out their necks
and began to coo of lust
love and longing
even coyotes poised to howl
found their eyes full of golden tears
as the ancient bird
chirped his sonorous song
while slowly unfolding
his translucent wings
capturing the last silver rays of evening