Nurture
Mary Winters
I dreamed again last night of a
certain tree in your yard
that magical bird-catching tree
in your plain Cape Cod front yard
a tree that was bigger than most
a wholly symmetrical tree
with perfectly unblemished leaves
a grander tree than those native
its branches were heavy all over
there on that cold, snowy day
with glamorous birds from afar
from equatorial jungles
it was a miraculous feast
for bird lovers such as us
my darling grandmother and me
I know how you called them to you
You were the bounty provider
you let me nest in your arms
together we feathered our time
with learning and writing and talk
you left me with glorious plans
to hatch even after you'd gone
thank you for bringing me food
when I was the hungriest
Last week I went to your grave
not very far from that yard
I became a tiny black bird
and hopped up and down in the rain
I pecked there for seeds finding few
then I stared at that towering stone
our name is carved into it deep
I hid my head under my quills
many people have died
but you are the one that I miss
I can fly on my own, though --
only because you once said
as you were preening my wings
that our very souls are attached
