When we gather black feathers
from the nest of the crow
to stuff the head of the scarecrow full, it is not some
obscure form of cannibalism
but a comment on how
fear resides between our ears.
When the days begin to grow
shorter and mornings crisp as apples, I turn into a bear.
I do not yet know whether this is transformation
or revelation.
In the meantime, hold me
close
because I’m open as a window
and the storm is rousing the trees.
from Poetry Northwest 12.1 Summer & Fall 2017More by Michael Bazzett from the library
Copyright © Michael Bazzett
Used with the permission of the author
on behalf of Poetry Northwest.