LARRY D. THOMAS

The Bird Carver 

For years she made excuses
for her husband. Said he was just
under too much stress. His job
and all. Goodness how he beat her
when he drank. Blackened her eyes.
Broke her left arm. Knocked
one of her teeth completely out.  

 She started carving birds out of pine.
Though untrained, she’d always shown
a talent for sketching and carving.
Neighbors noticed the more he beat her,
the more beautiful and detailed 
her birds became. He hated them.
Called them a complete waste of time.

Like the cardinal she was carving
the time she claimed she fell.
She died the next day, her death ruled
an accident from a slip on wet
concrete. The neighbors still picture
her cardinal with outstretched wings.
Poised at the brink of flight.

 

                                                                                           

 

 

 

                                                                          

       

           

         

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