A Grateful Moment
mercy
He noticed
upon looking back
he did these things when it happened:
*
He noticed
just barely
the silhouette flurry
flash upwards
*
He noticed
in that instant
he hoped
that wasn’t a bird
*
He noticed
next
the dull thwack
of the collision
*
He noticed
he turned his head
just in time
to see it fall
*
he noticed
his realization
of the event
as he exclaimed
“Oh, no.”
*
The young man
now on his own
sat on his one chair
in his rental suite
basement kitchen
staring out the window
with languid eyes
*
He remained motionless
except for the blinking
until he pursed his lips
and heaved a breath in
through his nose
and out again as
he set his jaw
*
He shouldered the old
wood door open and
craned his head out
his left hand
still holding the glass knob as
his right hand held flat
against the ratty layers
of floral print
*
The bird
lay gasping in the bed
beside an old yellow rose bush
its wings not quite
eagle spread and
covered with dirt
its beak
was snapped
like a pencil point twig
still hanging on
a sinew
*
He cupped the bird ever
so gently in his hands
and just sat there
stoically dry-eyed
cooing apologies
his head bowed over
watching the little gasps
grow slower between each
until its shiny black eye
became dull
*
He let go
his right hand and scooped
a small grave
right there
where it had landed
beside that yellow rose
*
It was a starling I held
in my hands
those many years ago
and I could not finish it
as my father would have done
Piteous me
I watched it watch me
oblivious
to my cascade of sorries
*
But there was a moment
just as its eye milked grey
when it sighed just a little
lighter in my hands
and I knew
we would both be okay
About the Creator
Ward Norcutt
Playwright and poet.
My goal as a writer is to write thoughtful pieces of prose, poetry and stage plays. Hopefully, the end results are entertaining and engaging, with layers of meaning that make sense to the whole or a theme therein.
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More stories from Ward Norcutt and writers in Poets and other communities.
Shame Won't Wash Away
a square of fabric can wash away dirt and stains but not the deep shame * Thanks for reading! Author's Notes: This is another entry into Matthew Fromm's great little challenge, which you can find out more about below. Basically, take a mundane object and write a 5-7-5 poem about it.
By Paul Stewartabout 17 hours ago in Poets
Comments (4)
Piteous me. Amazing the strength that comes through the experience. What a wonderful recollection, and delivery. Beautifully tragic
Every word perfectly in its place. 👌🏻 Beautiful! I have a newfound love for the word sinew.
Once again, you show your unique ability to marry tragedy and beauty together seamlessly, and with great power.
Oh my goodness. I think I would have cried. Wonderfully written, while so sad.