after Carlos Drummond de Andrade
Andrew don’t cry You’ve had too much to drink So what
You’ve outlived the family in the portrait Except one brother one sister
Why does it matter Birds of prey still go on the hunt
You are their launch tree You are the rock in the middle of the street
You are what the picture left behind Andrew a time comes
When the margin is called When the coyote won’t back down
From the car as it eats its roadkill When saying a prayer
Rings in your ears And the thumping in your chest
Says stay calm it’s useless to resist Andrew you have no more tricks
To stop spring from blooming animals To stop the flowers
From being an afterthought To stop talking to yourself
Remember the footsteps you hear are yours Remember Andrew
The seven sides of love you made took you to the river Remember
This baptism is not what the church had in mind Andrew remember