Magpie Woman

magpie woman
circles swooping
calling trailing
her long white
plumes across
the cold grey
parking lot
magpie woman
cackles shrill
bounce between
the buildings
screeching pain
pleading with
the mammals
magpie woman
calls for a dime
or finding
by chance a
bright quarter fallen
among the blades
magpie woman
circles again
coils into a
death roll
pulls up
tosses back
her feathers
arches
her
spine
lifts
her
beak

to

the

sun



cries