In memory of the little black spring chicken

We had just heard about
 the video of a tiny hummingbird held out
by human hand for its mother to feed
It could have been ruby red
though I had only heard about it
held out on the human hand to feed
and brought inside while its shoulder healed
until one day mother and human hand healed
baby flew away
my black dog can't catch a fly saw you
and we brought her in.
I watched you in the corner by the forcynthia bush
I watched your mother sit on a limb.
I caputured you in my binoculars
little black spring chicken
lumbering in short green grass
We had just heard about it
how a man healed a hummingbird
practical nonsense we tell children touching baby birds
but, we are leaving for New York in three days
It was our distaction
dogs and cat, houseplant's and  May garden
and the packing

We had just seen a video about you
and I drank my wine and we kept our dogs inside
I watched the Robins closely
and the mother slowly over head.
Black bird you were fat
the first coat of dark reflective blades had almost grew out the grey fluff
except your feet and
your beak and crown and your eyes were tucked under
your wings into your breast
My wife found you laying on your stomach
little bird you made it far
along the side of our house to the
the chicken wired downspout
.
A cat
a cat sliced your chest with four fine lines
and seeing it all didn't know what to do
The skin was bare under your armpits
only beggining
I should have buried you
so your mother could see
buried you in the Ghanges
blackbirds sing one mourning song
buried you in the trees
We had just heard about it

the hummingbird
I forgot about you
young little