Poem:  Your Pigeon Dream

As a totem animal –  if that is what this is –  

a  pigeon is not much:

why choose a dirty, dithering coward of a bird,

toddlers like to chase?

Why not an eagle for mastery,

a cardinal for showiness,

or a robin for diligent worm-hunting?

 And on a motorbike?

that symbol of daring,  irresponsibility and roaring get-away –

where is that in my life right now?

And the trainer who comes and takes away the pigeon  –

why is he there?

for how do you train a pigeon?

If this were my dream,

I might think of him

as my pigeon’s guardian:

Keeping watch

over my dirty birdiness

until I park the bike

 and pause to love that despised part –

that part longing to be known –

 Then I would wonder – if this were my dream –

 in what way a such dirty, clumsy, stupid thing

might then hover,

graceful and holy.

Lorna Harris

February 17, 2011