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a bird's song

by Beth Pauli
A passing of seconds--
a bird's song filters and dies
never heard or once heard
unanswered with a glance upward, but no voice.
Louder a call of serenity
falling to the ground in terminal velocity
hitting with a crash responded to by all--
jumping away from the silent pool of blood
covering the cracked cement, congealing.
Shattered message lying discarded, neglected
screaming back to its source
"no one gives a damn!" resonating
in the pea brain of the bird "no one gives a damn!"
Screech heard--high pitched and painful
followed by a stiff carcass shooting down
to find understanding in its blood.
Circle forms around the body, but no
one understands the artistic implication
of suicide.


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Copyright © 1997 by Beth Pauli. All rights reserved.