it was the usual walk to
the bus stop this morning with
the girls
i had a strong wheeze
accompany me today
for the last few days
it makes everything a
little sweatier and more
colorful
it's my eyes telling me i'm
needing more oxygen

i left them with their mother
and halfway between there
and here
were two starlings
they flittered close to me
then even closer
close enough to
kick them
but i didn't
and their eyes
those big black eyes
those eyes

they were full of this great
mystery
so unlike any human's
so
honest
and they looked at me
without intent
just being
before they flew away

and it made me
feel so inadequate
so ordinary
and i cursed myself
because i knew
i'd never be able
to write it down
right.