Katie Lehman (USA)

Hawk's Quill

 for Richard Berengarten

If everything necessary were here if everything

were necessary the world would be in its entire,

a hawk would weigh the earth by personal means:

How far is it to Antarctica? I cannot swim I cannot

sound out such a trajectory—South and North

within me. The lichen lifts her head. Uncovered

dignity makes her blush. In a step she is here, aware

of her own lime-sensitive attire. Now snow not snow,

but ice petrels flutter and deceive. Occurrence has teeth

and arms. Has root and twig. If everything bearable

were here if everything were bearable. The world

would be more than its mire. Would be ink and tree.

A branch to write with—in the cellulose pulp of a poem

from the splinter of a deciduous leaf. A hawk’s quill

burrowing there—Where does the earth figure in

other sorrow? Lamenting everything, I recognize an

under-down wing, a black comb, plastic and sad. How

long, and how long will it be? Slight feather in the ice melt

of unlikely dreams. Ephemeral breath, evanescent air—

upon this rift they tussle then follow. If everything

beautiful were here if everything were beautiful.

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