by the bird - ekphrasis 1

for john bell



an economy of star falls
freezing wages on the border

for the nesting patterns of squirrels
troubled with hiding trinkets

from owls and local authorities
with missions and research

into the mortality rate
of douglass furs

baring all fruit
to the goddess of lies

a small bird carves drawings
depicting the true nature

of life in the woods
when the stars go on strike.