The Knicknackery Issue Six | Page 6

Birds

Angela Ross Perfetti

There are two ways to kill a bird.

By the creek there’s a ditch that could be a foxhole

But it’s filled with feathers

There are two ways to kill a bird:

A slingshot for the tongue-cutter

Or two hands for the child

And the bird is almost already dead

And the child is always again you;

And I am grateful for it

For your child’s eyes

Your soft tongue

And your killer hands

As they go searching.

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