Released

for Antira

The flat, thin envelope bears the news:

Nineteen birds have flown their cages,

Each singing more beautifully

Than the last,

Winging it for the light

That comes

After the longest night.

Bird number twenty

Shall dance

To greet the dawn.

Air and Water

last night I dreamed

that I

alone was responsible

for providing air and water

to a festival of people

who were clueless

that these things were not provided

as effortlessly as the music

that played all night.

I overslept my 5am alarm -

I panicked

when I woke – I

blamed nobody,

because nobody

told me it was my job

to ensure the survival

of this species,

nobody.

somehow I found

the person in charge

(I don’t remember her name now, but

she was very calm), saying

don’t worry

all you have to do

is –

and she walked with me

from one pavilion to the next

showing me how to give

what everybody takes

for granted –

so freely

that nobody ever knows

the difference.