HUSK 2.1

after Alice Oswald

by Michael A. de Armas

She tried arching her back,
contorting all the way to
away, little prickling sounds
as of feathers secretly growing
little prickling sounds                yes
as of feathers secretly growing.
She tried patience
waiting until after dark
little glint of being
as of speed secretly growing
little glint of being        yes
as of speed secretly growing.
Wings tacked behind her,
she resembled herself,
resembled purple crested action,
yellow-billed sweat,
ring necked beauty,
resembled little hoping, saddle-billed, black-backed
last dance attempt to not be
glass-eyed, the ibis.