Sunday, April 21, 2019

(waning gibbous) ...there is no taking refuge in the family.
-Dhammapada  20.288



Air calves clear -
hear
cardinal inquisitive,
thrush scold.
Old chickadee
knew
who moved
this rock of air,
where winter was.
There, on the threshold,
he died,
singing spring
among
love's lessons
and complaints.

Told me
last thoughts
as I held him,
this old bird,
in hand -
and then,
when
he'd gone,
the air opened,
exhaling
as far as I
could see.