five blackbirds
on a leafless branch
one sits apart
from the others
that one may have
a real story
and the together four
I bet they know their place
accept their blackbird role
play the bird game well
proper partners
with expected children
maybe our friend perched alone
is a blackbird in name only
sees himself as any bird
or envisions he’s no bird
perhaps dreams
he’s got two legs
and roams this earth
sprouts wings in moonlight
and heads to the stars
or it just might be
he’s a she with four suitors
and none of them
fit the bill