Flocking

“You fold a magpie
into your serviette.
It struggles in your hands,
squabbling with fingers
to reach the gold foil on the floor.
And then it is a gull
that defies cliffs and the edge
of the table.
I want to teach a paper
pigeon three words and
drop it in your pocket
while you’re not looking.
Afterwards it can live in
Trafalgar Square, whispering
to Nelson where others only
beg for bread.”