Bird Sonnet
Is this a pale gold bird that lights beside
My ear? Its weight upon my neck is less
Than silent breezes that have less than died.
And yet it's heavy in its flaming dress.
It fills a space I had not felt before,
But when it landed, then the space began to ache;
It made the pain to give the balm the more.
This molten splendor spreads its wings
And sings a song that charms my hungry ear.
My heart keeps time with all the songs it sings,
and knows a denseness that is kin to fear.
And when the bird is gone its shape remains,
And melts to gladness all my other pains.