Beverly Cartwright

Between Iron and Glass

You come to the door tonight
unannounced,
unheralded.
A sudden visitor
to this new kingdom
of mine.

For a moment
as you peer at me from under your hand,
your eyes more, or less, predatory for mine.
I mistake your bulk for a wing span
from that ancient time
when we roamed the earth together

And I mistake that mouth
for a simpler, sharper tool
a fleshy beak
ready to curve
into the evening light
and procure
its necessary food.

You tilt your head
ever so slightly
toward my iron-laced door,
requesting entry.

My own head tilts
in response.
even now,
I could show you
the preferred smoothness,
the way in.

But then where would we be?
inside here, angry birds
without even a cover
at dusk.

.

Beverly Cartwright is a writer currently residing in Richmond, VA. She is at work on her first collection of poetry as well as a memoir. Her work has been previously published in Oddball Magazine and The RavensPerch.

.

Back