I found a perfect dead bird
on the deck, outside the window
victim of violence
a deceptive white light through too-big windows
his perfectly groomed feathers
grew darker as they moved
from his pale yellow-gray head to his almost black tail
I spent yesterday willing him, rise
please open your beak again, open your eyes
shake precious soft belly, hop to perfect black feet
dance again, go!
but he was gone
This morning I carried him deep into beauty
laid him to rest
in the tall grass of a clearing
beside the cabin
in woods and in sunshine
his family around me
we told him he’d be missed
that he was, is, loved, by everything around him
In saying goodbye
I fell to my knees
wept like a baby
for beautiful Orlando
I vowed to slow down and notice
to listen more closely
to love louder and better and more.
Then we all did.