Recipe for balance in the time of plague
- Four and twenty birds…
not only rusty blackbirds, but blue
jays and cardinals and goldfinches
the small house finch with his cherry
hood, the cocksure mocker with his flick
of tail.
- Next grate the lemon fragrance of four
’o’clocks, magenta blossoms, silvery
perfume. Infuse the morning light below
before combining with birds.
- Gild thickly with infused sunlight
as light as the clear post-dawn air.
Incorporate birds, sunlight, and fragrance
gently, so that birds still flutter then perch.
- Sprinkle heavily with the stolen songs
of crow and raven, covered by mockingbird.
Let notes sift between birds, while mixture thickens.
Admixture should be cool and slightly sweet.
- Finally, spritz lightly with the sound of birds
bathing, four fledgling starlings clustered in a bowl
of cool water. Once done, allow recipe to bloom
in the bowl of morning. Balance done in minutes.