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Our Secret


                                                                                  for Delaney

And now you will assist the Raven, your daytime and night sky guide.
There she is, do you hear her?
your mother always asked, out strolling with you.

Spot her high wire nest and eyes for you, secure in coat of twigs and twine. 
Forever more, your overhead soul surveillance. You will find sustenance

just pluck a practical feather to edit

the dark and the sun drenched.  You who spotlights supple ballet
ankles and disappearing glaciers. Right where you are, at the shore,

born with assurance, little squirrel. String the smarting disappointments 
and the pleasure bubbles like perfect baubles to make a sturdy necklace

Know the bond between what disturbs and what soars. Orange on black. 
Chuparosa headdress,
sexy red lipstick, and a soft lavender scarf.

Hidden twitters in the narrow botanical garden reveal themselves.
You walked there with your papa. You brought the outside

home to pour like cleansing water
through your broken mother’s hair this year

Indigenous trees frame the artwork and
the artist, you, editing until there are no longer jagged breaks 

Until near perfection bleeds kaleidoscopic ink and wishing breath

Dark feather flawless

sure portal for birds
Our secret, this maternal caw caw.

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