Afternoon By the Gulf and a Yellow Bird

Painting by Allen & Mary Dee


AFTERNOON BY THE GULF AND A YELLOW BIRD

After white wine
I feel asleep
By a gum tree stream
That had alligator,
With leaves mud-caked
Across his forehead.
When I awoke
After dreams
Of a crow
With light blue wings
Flying through
My bedroom
In an Italian castle
And of bright grasses
With spiked globes
Like Danish lamps
Sticking out
Of a skyblued rain puddles,
I saw a tiny yellow bird
Sitting on my knee,
She bowed, pecked,
Hopped away.
I, extremely happy,
Stayed still.
The yellow bird returned,
Danced across my chest.


Duane Locke

Posted over on Fullosia Press