Raymond Byrnes
Flight
A sparrow leads its
flitting charcoal dab
across the hillside grass.
He hears a breeze stammer
softly as it finds its way
through silver maple leaves.
When she smiles gently
telling him she's leaving, he sees
the setting sun behind her eyes
then turns to see his shadow
like the years they shared
tilting back in evening light.
Bio
For many years, Raymond Byrnes managed communications for the U.S. Geological Survey's National Land Imaging Program. His poems have been read on The Writer's Almanac and published in Third Wednesday, Shot Glass Journal, Fib Review, Misfits, Typishly, Split Rock Review, and numerous other journals. He lives in Virginia.