by long dark stream

the wind must carry sounds of ancient grief
to those who listen but can never hear
a signifier to those not so near
of what may happen to the subtle thief
or that some things are never past belief
the price of happiness may be too dear
but never so high as the cost of fear
each sigil must be clear and each word brief
what meaning's given to the flying shoe
or to the wings that lift the sluggish bird
messages may come in this cool weather
above us still the pale and cloudless blue
we wait to hear some fresh restoring word
that will give balance to phoenix feather