For Janny

                             March,     1972

High,

That urgent bird flutters

In a tangle of bare branches

Across the wet road

This March day.

Alights

And is gone

That bird,      which,

In a restless moment

Suddenly,       I thought

Was you.

And,    I could feel the heart of it beating =

Your pulse

Uncertainly you paused

On your perch

Against the sky

Looking somehow frightened,

I thought I heard your heart go wild

And wanted to reach out there,

Rock you like the tree

Touch your soft head,

And tell you I am here,

Close by.

                                    ESW