Bird and Tree

bird and tree

if you
were a tree
i would build my nest in the
crook
where your highest
branch meets your trunk

I would feather my nest with
the tinsel
from a Christmas tree
dragged to the curb on
January 2

I would find the auburn hair of
a young princess to
weave through it's walls giving
it strength and
continuity

I would search the
landscape for
blades of soft grass and tender
herbs
so that it would
ease the tension in
your limbs

i would bring home
bits of
string and
glitter, a rainbow of
paper and a sliver of the bluest
beach glass
to show you how
the world
is colored

i would rest in your arms
leaving only
to find something
i could bring back
to you in
your
immobility
to examine
together

there would be
nothing
between us but
this nest
that could not exist
without us
both

if i were a bird
i would
leave feathers behind
so that you would
feel my touch with
every breeze

i would ache
until i returned
from
flight
i would
be willing
to
give up
wings
to
stay
in
the
safety
of
your
branches...

if we were bird
and tree
we would
know no
species,
genus
or
gender
we
would
know
we
belonged together
because
we shared
a nest



K