Her heart fluttered,
When the little bird landed on her hand.

He was contented to sit
And fluff himself,
Perched on her finger,
And her heaviness and darkness
Dripped and dribbled
In streaks down her cheeks
While he sang.

The knot inside her loosened,
A little,
And she breathed,
Deep and easy.

When he lifted off her hand
And flitted away,
Some of the heavy went with him.

She smiled a yearling sort of smile,
Crooked and small,
And she tucked a feather into her heart
For safekeeping.