From the corner of the eye of the sea Orchids spread like plasma Further into the ground of soil. Each compliment drew her limbs closer To the dirt crusted creature. The bird brought tales of streif From the east wing of the sun. She slipped like liquid into these words And fell heavy toward the belly of belief. Sitting upon a rock by the sky, She stroked his broken neck From nightfall Straight into autumn. She sealed her eyes tight And gave the bird each ounce of love Her fingertips could muster. With each day her skin grew harder And tiny bones formed beneath fragile flesh. Weeks turned tragic songs to lullabies. On the sidewalk of the desert High in clouds of steam, Her eye lids fluttered and parted. She looked upon the furrowed bird in disbelief. The saddened sight had been replaced By a lovely little boy. Her mind, as heavy as her hands. Tears welled within her eyes But not one fell Because her cheekbones had sprouted feathers And years of stroking and sympathy Made her weak. She had become the lowly bird, And as she glimpsed into his eyes, now blue He chuckled cruelly at her fragility. Sympathy burned as rage beneath her ribs. Lightning struck the sky and she learned Never to trust a bird Again.