A Flock of Birds

Your body was my church
and when I made love to you
it was my prayer
sang the deranged monk

I was silent but not alone
in the depths of silence
there is always oneself

The court sat
and when the books were opened
out leapt the flames

A flock of red and yellow birds
thrown
against the grieving clouds
lit up the dying afternoon
like a tear from her eye

Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus): photo by TheGirlsNY, 2009

Birds: Franz Marc, 1914