a city wide survey
have you heard the news today?
horns call for reply
chittering swallows perched on balconies
lean out above the parade
in recognition of oneself in another
a people in pain
mirrored in cries heard overseas
we listen
frustrated and ruffled
carrier pigeons over gaza
are indistinguishable
from london's ravens
and the pigeons of manhattan
is this news to anyone?
you are more born of a mother
than any town of god
passports and borders are mere names
given and regiven
james john luke ezekiel
words catch in the maw of our beak
choking on a song we dont speak
written in all our wings
translated by men who know nothing of flight
who wish to split feathers and
tar the might of
mountains and valleys sold sacred
what are books to birds?
but paper and thread
to build a nest
for eggs sleeping safe
while those with a ledger
who believe they own the sky
control the weather
airstrikes swift and silencing
doves scream at sounding sirens
the death is deafening
have you heard them?
a kid in air jordans rips a flag from an SUV
a moonfaced woman yells "hamas!"
as if this is premier league
cheer for the winning team
though theyve always owned the cup
more than sore
from loss, now numb
burning your fingertip hurts most when it heals
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