You arrive
one day before
this equal night

before sun
and earth attune.
You land

on cool ground
eager to feed
breed

break new ground
to build nests
lay clutches

of blue
tend
to your young.

And when
you tend
you’ll be vigilant

as you scan
for snake
and squirrel

dive-bomb
blue jay and crow
guard

against grackle
until you tire
and when you do

hawk will come.
She’ll take you
with curved talons

then stand
on warm ground
stained

with the silence
of your song.