[The following poem was published by VerseWrights in 2015]

Birmingham Pigeons

Allotted a life to live out
And fill out and empty out
That is one life too many.

I do not mean to play the fool
To hear your words as one deaf
I cannot take comfort in this here roost.

My friends, my familiars, my confidants, my compadres
My sweet bosom buddies—
You are all equally loved
As are my kinsmen and customs and hobbies
It does not sit well with me
None of it does sit at all well with me.

I’ve done seen one too many pigeons take roost
Fly back out again

Somersault downward

And go out rolling

Straight as a boat line

Never to come up.