Long Distance
from Miami at last you telephoned
how relieved I was to hear
your cheerily oblivious voice
I asked do you see any birds
what birds? I'm in downtown Miami
lamely Ummm do you face the beach
are there any pelicans or gulls?
I can see a sliver of beach from my window
but I cannot say I've seen any birds BIRDS!
I'm in downtown Miami remember?
why did I think of birds except
their colors their presence would seem essential
to that domesticated paradise
birds of the tropics birds of the city jungles
I have seen old prints of extinct parrots
Audubon's green paraketts of the Carolinas
oh cheerful oblivious birds
your are doomed my pretty little things
well if we're all caught up
I'm going down to the bar and have drink
then he adds with righteous good humor
I wanted to call you first
I am thinking his room probably has a balcony
perched on the rail out there are rows of cormorants
and tropical hummingbirds the names of which
I do not know I cannot think of their names
or anything else to say to him
so I ask about hurricane damage in Florida
our dancing signals careen meaninglessly
just like drunken cardinals
crashing into the window glass
the birds I mean not the Catholic Church
not you
©Copyright Mary Kennan Herbert