Theory of Illumination
the crow that flew into the greenhouse to greet
my father; it was time to go
broken secrets chase one another
an old wives’ tale: the one about a cat
who climbed into the baby’s crib and stole his breath
a barrier to movement
three older sisters who draw bow strings to shoot arrows
through a young maiden’s heart are turned to stone
like water that distorts, a mirror bends intent
branches of naked trees plead to the wind
the sky lowers to touch my fingers
you in every breath
with the wind comes rain
a psalm to weather the storm
a meter of light remains
From "Theory of Illumination" a chapbook of poems by Valerie Poulin.