on my street corner

only the common crow

and hell-bent mynas

invasion hanging from their orange beaks
the black bird counts O’s

(always three)

and guards the fringe of road

           the city sky
it is the death father

           fence guard

           traveller

           hater of all things
passing rain brings its own song

for a moment

           the birds agree

                      on silence
the sun casts its net through the fence

the bird on my corner

           uncatchable

already its own shadow.