literature

Blessing

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Daily Deviation

Daily Deviation

June 30, 2013
Blessing by ~saartha
Featured by BeccaJS
Suggested by pinballwitch
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Literature Text

My father strangled a bird
quietly, calm as gravity,
there in the garden. He bent
as if praying to the torqued wing
reddening his hand.

The night hunkered down on the screaming
wildness, on the kicking legs, the abrupt
and awe-filled silence. I watched him
watch the beak open, close,
like rippling lake water.

I loved him, the mercy
of his heavy knuckles, the kindly
indifferent expression.

He closed the beak like a priest
closes the eyes.
Heart of Jesus, once in agony,
have mercy on the dying.
-Catholic Prayer for the dying


The heck, this got a DD? Thanks y'all. My previous DDs can be found here: [link] [link] [link] [link]
© 2010 - 2024 saartha
Comments120
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jswebb's avatar
I do not know how I missed this piece, but man, it packs a wallop. As one who just had to euthanize a baby squirrel, I feel a poignancy looming. This poem resonated with me greatly.