everything
is changed
nothing meant
to be the same
tho I wished it still
for once
til I could take it in
was a picture that I framed
held the shutter
for too long

where was the light
I waited for
what became of this
the other night
was left before
these robins were not stationed
on the roof
a dove or two
I noticed them
but never did they whine
not even when she lost him
(the mystery forgot)
she couldn’t cry
couldn’t share with me her pain

still there she was
a shadow of his life

but the robins
how they boast
of every treasure that they find
a breath of fur
a strand of silk
tinsel for the nest
no one can build the same
busy there beneath the edge
where shingle meets with shade
the children lost
the baby fell beyond the
lowest branch

how was I to know
when the weeds were tall
and looking until dark
strained against the weakest
of the summer snares
were others there
but what had changed
where was change intended
I want the one
where is the one
the baby of the babes
the longing one
of these
the last to fly

let’s sit the night
I’ll burn out every bulb
along the path
raise the lantern up
and melt each candle into wood
we’ll find the one
was leaving

forgot to let you go