In front of us, too far for the eyes,
our future, a glowing, absolute
budding of possibilities, a bird
breaking through the bush, the dog
its chain. And yesterday amid the muck,

mud of wasted hours and snarled
traffic, I looked up, noticed, perched
upon the chainlink fence, a raven,
dark smudge of life. Wings spread,
it lifted, surrendered to the grace,

the power of the wild wind whose voice
sent slivers through the heart's
core, causing me to look up higher
and startle to think you had said yes,
the embers of this careful friendship ignited.