Whippoorwill

​Whippoorwill, 
Standing, still. 
World goes by, 
A buzzing fly. 

Sing to me. 
I’ll dance with thee 
Out on the limb, 
Discarding him 

That aches me. 
Broken brakes me. 
Sends me skidding, 
Side-rail hitting,

Into the trunk. 
My Will was sunk,
But then the song
No more raked wrong. 

Whippoorwill, 
What did he do, 
That rises you to rally,

Upward from the valley
And from the sting, 
With outstretched wing 
And swollen breast?
​
This mind’s behest 
So longing. 
That’s right, 
No wronging. 

I’ll take my beating 
Heart’s wet bleating 
Out to the wood 
Where poor Will 
​
Once stood. 

2/9/22