she lost him on a Wednesday evening
shot scattered against a November dusk gray
her wreckage like flown crows’ exploding wings
now what she asked, how to see beyond today

the hollow sky above her deep dry well
how to escape the wind worrying through
marrowless bones with discordant flute calls
how to claw out, find footing, head raised anew

breathe, he said, in, out, in again, out again
accept, rebuild, accept, rebuild each sigh
unraveled threads knitted, shredded steel melding,
repairing birds’ wings to glide if not to fly

downdrafts become upswells as todays beget
tomorrows, flight when gray and dusk relent