A black swarm
takes over evening sky
wheeling and whooshing
and suddenly
they are dancers
pirouetting unpredictable
in frigid breeze
over Jefferson pines
On this starlit backdrop
bright moon
catches their flutter
like ebon constellations
expanding then closing
and I watch this visual duet
of stars and star-birds
magnificent and fragile
as a single blink.
How did this communion happen
with no communication
no planned meet up?
only a stepping out
onto the night sky stage
tonight, maybe again tomorrow
iridescence their common song
I feel my legs lift me
my arms begin to swim
sinking and rising,
I bid my feet to jump me off this
winter ground over scented branches
I want to fly into dazzling performance
I want to see full moon’s grin close up;
hear wild cackle of applause.
Marianne Lyon has been a music teacher for 39 years. After teaching in Hong Kong, she returned to the Napa Valley and has been published in various literary magazines and reviews such as Colere, Crone, Trajectory, Earth Daughters, Feile-Festa, and Whirlwind. She spends time each year teaching in Nicaragua. She is a member of the California Writers Club and Healdsburg Literary Guild. She is an Adjunct Professor at Touro University, Vallejo California.
