The Year of Birds

cardinal blue jay sparrow crow grackle owl peacock eagle seagull sandpiper heron hawk

Photo by Cristina Gottardi on Unsplash

this year, I knelt at the altar of

death and divination.

—

I catapulted to stillness

community to solitary

din to silence

deep and dark.

—

again, they say

cover your mouth

count your exhales

watch the wings

—

shift on the wind

flash white and gold

in the sun

enflamed with truth

—

this story of the phoenix

says everything moves

in cycles.

—

when I listen, the echoes

of past ashes

surrender to the breath

of love

and scatter.