ravens snag rookies in bluejay trees

SOLE MAGPIE

The angry father is a sad figure;

the unarmed child who walks

with open hands, talks

toward him, reaches C major

on the 88 (pine-green octave).

Ravens snag rookies

in bluejay trees;

the hunters wonder what to have

out of their hollow sack of Bruegel-

frost; argufying

starlings form a ring

around a sole magpie (farewell,

Maggie).  Translucent October

showers yellow-black

on Caesar’s hunchback

(rogue goldfinch – he’s never sober).

Cold grows colder, stone more stony;

rude men kneel down

for a crust of wine-

stained loaf; God’s only phony

for the mickle microphones – the orphan

player’s Richard III.

She’ll stand by me,

mutters Rusty Piers (cowman);

after the grey November rain

stars will come out again,

gems constellate the plain –

& Hobo echo her enchanted brain.

10.18.16