“Untitled jisei series” by Shirley Plummer
Based on Lewis Turco’s Paradigm
have morning birds flown?
still earth under empty sky
do you fear the dark
birds of prey swooping ’round me
circling the death that is near
sweet song of blackbird
plucks at the strings of a harp
my heart cries out at
fledgeling’s wistful entreaty
owl eyes terrorize
alarmed child bursts into tears
our fears are useless
we are born, we live, we die
seek peace between on the way
night birds sing softly
he was gentle, so quiet
I should have known then
when last I lay with my love
to remember everything
to leave quietly
wear slippers and walk away
alone in the night
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Shirley Plummer’s Artist Statement: A wandering native of Oregon finally returned, I long ago published several poems; but now, with support from a wonderful group of writers, I have begun writing and publishing again. I now live on the central Oregon Coast between national forest and ocean. My first collection the task of falling rain appeared March 2016.
