"Absolution" by Grace

I was minding my own business when it happened. A flash of brown. A single ringing blow, then a dull thud. That was all it took to end the mourning dove. How our window shook to look upon its brutal work. At least it was quick. A useless mercy. To spend a life singing just to go out making that sound. To have the entire sky, wide open and die trying to fly into a room. I did the only thing I could: go outside to make sure. I knelt by the lifeless body, feathers all askew. It seemed to look back up at me. Its eye a planet — gone still, its final act an accusation. Days later, what happened on the other side of the glass never touched me. I touch the window, stained now. A casual stroke of red like a hurried kiss goodbye. ————————————– Grace called us from Midland, Canada. voicemailpoems.org/submit/ facebook.com/voicemailpoems x.com/voicemailpoems bsky.app/profile/voicemailpoems.bsky.social instagram.com/voicemailpoems