Produced by Maine Poetry Central and Dennis Camire
This week’s poem is from the producer of this series, Dennis Camire, from his collection “Combed By Crows,” published by Deerbrook Editions.
Some Words on Birds and Borders
By Dennis Camire
Let’s praise all the world’s birds
Unconcerned with shots and passports
As they cross disputed borders
Then refuse to seek permission to
Touch down on the river’s moonlit landing strip.
And let’s sing of those crazy, Canada geese
Violating North American Trade agreements
As their bellies import unknown grains
And they don’t stop for the bomb and pot sniffing dogs.
And see how no single winged being heeds
A “no fly zone” between warring countries
Where one private notes “soldiers”
Turn into amateur birders as they lord over
“No man’s land” where grouse seek spouses
Along mine-laced gravel roads
And falcons let their young fly over
The anti-aircraft artillery of trees.
And imagine, now, the seeds of peace sown
By the wooing peacock caught between cross-fire
Or the mother cardinal spied nesting over
The killing fields; and you — birder of words —
Unsure if you can fly into the altruism’s altitude
Where flocks of hopeful thoughts are flushed
From the single thrush admired through
The sniper’s scope, when did the b-52 of blue heron
Ever fail to drop, into the pond,
Anything but her body’s beautiful bomb?
Dennis Camire can be reached at denniscamire@hotmail.com
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