The day the local lampmen came, 

I warned them it was early spring. 

Their hour’s work was fleet & loud. 

They dropped dead finches in my yard. 

I warned them it was early spring—

I watched the mothers gather hair. 

Men dropped dead finches in my yard

& did not fix the broken lamps. 

I’d been watching mothers gather hair, 

feathers, thistle, & spiderwebs,

then fix them up in broken lamps. 

I know I said the words aloud. 

Now: feathers, thistle, spiderwebs,

& green-white eggshells in a pile.

I know I said the words aloud. 

I cupped my hands to form a nest. 

Green-white eggshells in a pile. 

Their hour’s work was fleet & loud. 

I cupped my hands to form a nest

the day the local lampmen came.

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