gills and gizzards

this is the arm
the man mouths over birds
which have my attention and admiration
with their indifference to it
and the string
the man adds
slings across here
like tight underwear
of a lover
which these birds certainly have
doves that never leave their partner
even when used at weddings
released by hands that eventually release
and don’t forget to hold on
to the quiver to make it
point to the world
which often doesn’t have a point
a point that doesn’t bother the birds
and their schedules of eat
and eat and avoid being eaten
and hold yourself in a hug
arms apart
breath easy
full
silent
still beating
with the birds burping
and chattering about how
the sun is a fishing line over
the watered sky
while the trees are seaweed
and they are fish
the birds are fish
and want to be fish
to have fish around
to eat and eat
and avoid being eaten

the kind of life
that deserves a shot