my Mother and i used to go on walks together.

Our hands swinging, She’d point to the

Singing birds and whisper their names

in the safe shell of my ear. Bluebirds,

matching the sky. Now my hands

twist and tie themselves into

knots. i tell my feet to make

no noise as i drift into school

my heart is a hummingbird’s

wing and my mind is held

captive by Ravens and Crows.

Gingerly i sit in a chair in the

back of the room.

Don’tnotice

Don’tnotice

Don’tnotice

i pray. But the birds in

heaven don’t hear

or don’t care

and when the

Ravens and

Crows see

me their

talons go

straight for

my Bluebird

sky

eyes.