Bluebird (for Barbara)

You hate to give or get a hollow gift?

Well,  hollow gifts are gifts bereft of flesh

and imprecise.  The bluebird’s sudden flit

beside your road, though slight, was – yes-

my flesh: I am your bird, theophanous!

No blue is much too blue to be the blue

of heaven, nor is any bird who flew

not Jesus’ kiss. To be a Jesus kiss

the bird just needs to be for you: for you

He would not flesh or fly a hollow gift.

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