Two Poems

A Little Death

only a little death by world's standards -
it had left the nest too soon
couldn't feed itself or fly -
ignored by the other birds
it crouched on the ground crying
until at last it crept into a corner
to die silent and alone -
this is not the violence of war accident or brute terrorism
but its crying haunts me -
there is particularity this bird
at this time in this place here and now

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Inalienable

the day is brightening -
as the cloud cover thins
leaves are polished with light
yet at the same time
a misty rain is falling -
there's no choosing between them
as if there's only one inalienable truth -
instant two irreconcilable facts
stand together
raindrops sparkling with light

this is a metaphor
life is full of such moments -
a safely domesticated cat
with his penumbra wildness
equally at home in front of the fire
or wide eyed under the stars -
to choose is to distort
to remove a dimension -
in fairy tales beware one
who does not cast a shadow