M

Metal Birds Make a Sonnet

The road might have taken us anywhere     but
instead we are surrounded by birds     white birds
black birds     all are forced out of metal     with
gyroscopes and grease     they manufacture their
myths of predation     I feel like I’m even more drunk
than I actually am     as I watch these engines
integrate in swoops of sonic energy     halted within
the magnolia shadow where squirrels are formed
from earth     and fencing     my soul resides outside
in the loamy garden     not in the newspaper columns
where war is exfiltrated     and terminates as sport
not in the sad burning electron streams of broadcast
the bird machines will now proceed to eat my
organs     as the rocks roll slowly back down the slope. 


Photo by Richard R. Schünemann on Unsplash

Paul Ilechko

Paul Ilechko is a British/American poet. Born in South Yorkshire, he now lives with his partner in Lambertville, NJ. His work has appeared in a variety of journals, including The Night Heron Barks, Louisiana Literature, Iron Horse Literary Review, Sleet Magazine, and Book of Matches. His first album, "Meeting Points", was released in 2021.