The crows settle in the field outside
noisily fighting over the things I left them.
One flies right past my window, a cheap necklace
studded with tiny glass beads
clutched in its beak, another bird tight behind, contesting its claim.
They squawk and caw in frenzied delight
over old glass rings bought at yard sales
earrings and pendants made on my back porch
a handful of little dolls pinched out of tin foil.
They stalk my treasures until the sun goes down
leaping and hopping and shrieking in the grass
finally leaving the field too empty and quiet.
— HOLLY DAY
Holly Day’s writing has recently appeared in Analog SF, Talking River, and New Plains Review, and her published books include Music Theory for Dummies and Music Composition for Dummies. She currently teaches classes at The Loft Literary Center in Minnesota, Hugo House in Washington, and the Indiana Writers Center.