Before he flew away,

I asked about love and death,

since that’s all we are-

such simple animals

–

It didn’t seem odd to us,

a woman and a bird

conversing about such things;

we know of flight and loss

–

He said I was silly

to even ask;

whatever answer he’d manage

wouldn’t be enough

–

He gave me allegories

about boxes and tethers,

saying the trick is to find rest

inside the tender trap