There are things you love but they are rarely if ever
the right things your favorite color that mottled dapple
that fleeting purpleyellowblackgreen that exists only
inside skin in the wake of harm the bitterns outstretched
neck a gesture you can’t get over its offer of concealment
that also references danger for years you’ve loved the goose
found at pond edge found at clouded blueblack daybreak
its neck curved back head tucked as if risk as if the dark
the dawn were nowhere where nothing to fear but then
you saw feathers like petals like fasteners fallen open
fallen to curl and drift in those shallows whatever befell
had nothing of violence in it rather a quiet fading a still
slip down or away rocked by ripple by wind by water
feathers and flesh coming undone unmended coming
into water such a small such a slight armada the body
given over sanctified at almost dawn coming finally
almost whole almost safe almost to daybreak and to shore
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