TWO HUNGRY BLACKBIRDS

lovers accustomed to tragedy
see every kiss in the window 'cross the street
breezes and blessings passing by.

i'm in the shade of the dogwood tree
not the one where you told your name to me
two hungry blackbirds land near by.

if i could be over you when the sky starts falling
would you be happy under me
if i could be under you if the earth was burning
could you be trusted over me.

spoke to a mother who's baby drowned
gave me advice, or a rumor she once heard:
“heaven's a distance not a place.”

gave her an ear from the corn we grew
you were away but she gave her thanks to you
that was a year ago come may.

if i could be over you when the sky starts falling
would you be smothered under me
if i could be under you if the earth was burning
would you be cryin’ over me.

i could hear kids in the yard next door
cats in the brush when the calendar fell down
wait by the shade-tree one more year.

poetry tempered with tragedy
tempted and pulled when you cry upon my sleeve
two flocks of blackbirds meet the air.