An Open Letter to Every Poem: Dear Sir or Madam,

I love each of you as I love
a live bird held in the mouth.
I once watched a man's arm
around me and saw in
the shape of the bicep
the shape of a slumbering
sparrow. And this
while outside hot air blew
eddies of small brown leaves
into whirling nests. A real
nest curled under the eaves
cuddling a dove that was just
fist-sized. Its circle eye held
and twitched. I love your images
as a mother loves each image
of her children -- that is,
with a story and a history
in every stillness. I love you
in the same way as a man loves me
as he advances with ownership. He
skips any pretense of courtship and immediately
thanks me. I love you the way the beautiful people
love: out of largess and with sincerity
and some sense of their inadequacy
for not having not having. I love you

I love you
I love you
for owning the courage of a bird of prey
and the courage of a bird
who is prey -- both kinds
feed and sing.

With regards,
The Poet

Copyright Louise Robertson