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Four Cardinals
Color of post
storm sky breeze
in mid
storm sky breeze
in mid
afternoon lost
memory it could almost
have disappeared but for the ripple
it made in the earth-
colored water
When asked
colored water
When asked
the color of the sky Deutscher’s
daughter daughter
of a linguist could not
say What is the color
of absence? of a wish? of the mind’s
reflection? At the block
of absence? of a wish? of the mind’s
reflection? At the block
party we introduced
ourselves by our house
numbers 24 as if
we might be recognized
by the stairs we climb
each day the doorjamb
by the stairs we climb
each day the doorjamb
our fingers brush as we try
to remember
what it is we forgot
Alphard
At Deer Lagoon from the neutral
beiges and browns grays
At Deer Lagoon from the neutral
beiges and browns grays
and blacks a blue
stepped beak sharp
as a pick Our worship
built into its name The Great
Blue
Heron swallows
Blue
Heron swallows
whole its prey has been
known to
choke Its diet
is not limited
to fish and bugs
It will eat mice too
to fish and bugs
It will eat mice too
and other birds Tonight
the Worm Moon rises
in the company
of Hydra water snake
largest
of the 88
largest
of the 88
constellations To the north
a bell ting
tings the 506
Carlton Red flashes
between white-
washed buildings I watch
between white-
washed buildings I watch
from this house
where the floors tilt
in every
direction and the arch
over the back
door is mounted up
over the back
door is mounted up
side down 18’s bird
feeder swings A ripple
the color of 
Four Cardinals
Long Division