Poem of the Week, by Julia Koets

Paper Birds

- Julia Koets

Moths must tire of sleeping near the ceiling.

All that waiting for their wings to match

color that changes where wall folds to eave.

This afternoon I found her at the table, asleep

amongst paper, delicate as dreams, elaborate

birds made of folding, made for our ceiling.

I try unfolding one, tail and beak of pleats,

green and yellow flowers on a patch

of wing. No cuts or glue to hold to evening,

to have them flying from fishing line. Geese,

swans, a hummingbird. Window unlatched,

and wind wakes their sleeping from the ceiling.

Song of paper rustling; song of crease

and bend; song of watching

color that changes where wall folds to eave.

We fall asleep like this, a counting sheep,

a listening for paper birds, a grasping

for sounds that sleep near the ceiling,

in colors that change where wall folds to eave.

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For more information on Julia Koets, please click here: http://www.versedaily.org/2012/aboutjuliakoets.shtml

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