Richard Morrison
White Pelican Release
Illness is the cage Opening, the release A white pelican emerges Extending Its neck, its golden Bill to the longed-for sky Hazel eyes dare us to bear witness Preening its feathers Stretching Black-fringed wings The sweet Deliberate steps To the water’s edge Like a pause between Each breath Catching in the chest Is this like death? A sudden Beating, a flurry Flapping then lifting Victory lap above our heads, over And around the sullen lake Straight into a blind horizon Beautiful Magnificent bird How does it feel to leave this earth?
—Submitted on 04/16/2020
Richard Morrison’s poems have appeared in Provincetown Arts and Christopher Street, among other publications. He holds an MFA in poetry from Columbia University (1991) and currently serves as editorial director for Fordham University Press.
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