I Want a Bird

I want a bird.
I want a small bird for my small
          hand;
          for when I am hungry,
          for when I want a simple song,
          for all the parts of your body I have
          described in bird-like terms:
          your bicep is the shape of a bird sleeping;
          your throat contains this bird;
          your eyes, your hair, your
          patterns of nest and forage.

I want grasshoppers.
I want grasshoppers for when the bird is hungry,
          for all the parts of your body
          I have described using this bug:
          your legs, your belly hairs,
          your patterns of devour and devour.

I want some grain.
I want some grain to give me the colors
          of tan and husk and wheat and brown
          to describe your skin, nails, palms, flesh.

I also want the grain
          to feed the insects,
          to feed the bird,
          to feed the mind.

When I describe
you, I use these
terms
          for when I am hungry,
          for when we are both hungry.
          for when we eat of our love: bird, insect, grain:
          muscle, hair, hands, flesh.

Copyright Louise Robertson