Humming and Birds
By: Alicia Swain
The weeds beneath my feet, vibrant as the basil and greens
stirred gently into the savory sauce we stirred for supper
to serve for friends we never knew we had. My lips
vibrate, and yet, not a soul could see what such small
sounds do for me and my sanity. As the birds chirp, I
feel their hearts beat and move my toes to the beat —
forcing a rustle like a deer closing in upon me, the sweet
sound of robins communicating to companions
with every tweet as a I sit, humming songs of sympathy
and comfort to myself, stuck between worlds:
oceans burnt with fire, trees bright against cerulean skies.
Alicia Swain is a former English teacher and current researcher based in Richmond, VA. She has an English BA from Penn State University and is currently pursuing an English MA from Eastern Illinois University. She can be found on Instagram and Twitter, @aliciamswain, and on her website at https://aliciaswain.com/.