Birds Above the Mast
By Garland Davis
in the Western Pacific clouds
above the mast
two, no three, albatross circle
one behind the other
aimed at something promised
by the wisdom of their hollow bones
their eyes searching the sea
they sweep above our decks
all the places where we live our lives
in whatever moments we find
as we move through the calm seas
driven by some covenant
like the wind that moves their wings against the clouds