jdubqca

not going back home anytime soon

when I finished the book
I took it with me to the library
—they said they didn’t have this one
and I said now you do

the pigeons on the front steps
don’t know how to read
but if they did they’d quickly find out
it’s best to hang with the ducks

just a few city blocks away
I made my way to the lake
(which is really just a big shallow pond
w/geese & ducks & an occasional pelican)
a new book under my wing
something about angels
looking homeward

sitting down on a bench
I kept the book shut
watched the walkers & joggers
& cyclists going by
wings tucked under their shoulders
not a single pigeon in sight





december two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved