birds

the royal
regal
blue-jay

prince of
thieves
eats eggs


the bird of
peace...
also a
thief

a pest and
a glutton
the dove
plagues farm fields
incessantly


vultures:
misunderstood
bald janitors of
the sky

eat the dead and
the soon-to-die
clean and keep
the world
disease-free


Noble eagles
cunning hawks
murder
anything
that moves


angels
spread wings and
gracefully
glide

plumage
bright
white

while


demons
spread wings and
gracefully
glide

plumage
bright
white

the same team

he could apologize...
she would ask him, "for what?"
he would just sit
silent

he has no answer
he has infinite
questions
no answers

he hurts because
she hurts because
he...
doesn't know why

they're both frustrated...
at him

they're both trying to
cast off cares

they both need a miracle
of
revelation
or
consolation

two stomachs
knotted
in tangles
of confusion
he tied

two minds
both believe
distance will decrease
pain

but the hurt
is just one more
commonality

so battling
unidentified foes
he's asking the
same question
as she

"if we're already
sharing the load
shouldn't we fight
on the same team?"