D.A. Prince
Swallow
For just one day a swallow fed her young
outside our rented window on high wires
stretched from the gable end above a street
where nothing happened. Two floors down
a door might open sometimes, or a gate
click as a neighbour brought her shopping in
from morning shadows, but up here
our air was hot with hunger
three feet from the glass, and rattling
in four loud throats. Their screams
swivelled to call in food, their noise
scraping the slates in desperate fear
of no-next-time, their brick-red faces
scarved in inky gloss. Born refugees,
they squirmed, already robed for flight,
no choice but travelling the treacherous air,
no safe frontiers to head for.
Next day they were gone, leaving
only an empty question on the wire.
Page(s) 30
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