discards

It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleating)

On my patio yesterday.

discards 2026.07.01

there's a mourning dove walking 
on my back deck 
waiting to die
it's eating all it can
but it cannot fly

i don't know why i see these things
but i do
i don't know why i feel these pains
but i do 

next day there's a discarded wing
and other things
and whatever springs 
to mind

random memories passing
long dead siblings
a summer fling 
launched by words so kind

they all went down swinging
cussing like sailors slinging 
profanities  
in chaste ears ringing 

there's a vulture overhead soaring
it must be smelling the death floating
up in the air possibly imploring
me to leave the dismembered wing

or maybe to just stay where i am
he'll be right there 
but here i remain
to life clinging 
with nothing to gain

singing

i don't know why i've seen these things 
but i did
i don't know why i felt these pains
but i did