|
It did not happen in a day. |
|
We hummingbirds said, "Father don't, |
|
you could do the right thing. |
|
You could turn around." |
|
He called our names and 1, 2, 3. |
|
We slipped into the snow boots, |
|
stood behind the coats hanging lowest |
|
in the closet racks. |
|
I moved and made a sound. |
|
The hangers jangled. |
|
Did he hear the metal clattering? |
|
And had I given us away? |
|
I'd given us away. |
|
We waited side by side. |
|
We could hear your soles squeak, |
|
we could feel the ground shake. |
|
We tightly closed our eyes. |
|
You found us, you were right this time. |
|
How did you know? |
|
We were curled in sleeping torpor. |
|
We dreamed of flying up where the exhausted die. |
|
You found us, you were right this time. |
|
How did you know? |
|
Pinned behind the pantry with the vacuum. |
|
Pancaked underneath the bed means dead. |
|
Nestled between the ladle, with the pots and pans. |
|
My heart beats and beats |
|
and I can hear it like a drum in my head. |
