He will raise you up
on eagles’ wings,
stand you up
on the great heron’s legs,
speed you up
on the hummingbird’s flutter,
scoop you up
in the pelican’s beak,
shake you up
by the woodpecker’s pounding;

Look to the birds,
they’ll teach you
to fly to him.

#poem #poetry

I would’ve chosen
different gifts for a baby.

Not much good does gold
for a boy born in a manger.

Death perfumes?
To a postpartum mother?

Even the drummer boy,
pa rum pa pa pum
must’ve been
quite the racket.

We say the kings were wise,
but maybe a meal and a rattle
would’ve been more thoughtful.