Andrea O'Rourke
Blackbirds
After Wallace Stevens
for Boban
the only thing moving
in the city
in front of the cars’ silver headlights
is the man on the bicycle
the day too young
still too damp
for shadows
the man and the black bicycle
slink across the zebra
as one
this handsome diligence on thin wheels
their spinning irises
and his feet
like two blackbirds
in steady flight
one follows the other
edging the circle
they make
and in their fixed rhythm
their closeness
and the distance between them
remains the same
a sweet pursuit
now clearing into the park
in the cool whirl of the wind
and then the empty path
and the city silent in their departure
the day was young and pale all week
it was silver
and it was going to rain feathers