Letter Written on a Paper Crane by Dave Rowley | Poetry The Literary Bohemian

Poetry – Issue 5 | June 2009

Letter Written on a Paper Crane

by Dave Rowley

Dear Person,
The world is worsening.

This bird has been carefully crafted
from the last sheet of paper
in my notebook. She cannot fly.

I know this, but am relying on wind
and good luck, hoping she will be carried
toward people who can help. Clouds live

between me and the horizon, and the streets
are too quiet. Did something happen? Warm birds

are rare here, they fell from the trees weeks ago.
I’m sending my paper crane in search of life, though
I doubt you can come. Please care

for the bird even though she cannot sing.
To compensate for this I sang while making her—
each crease contains one song. If you come,

you will know when you find me; my house
has a light on. Please bring paper.

About the author

Dave Rowley is originally from Sydney, Australia. He now lives in Seattle with his wife Tina and their son Finn. Dave’s poems have been previously published in Mimesis, Juked, and Stirring, a fact that utterly fails to impress Finn.

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Poetry – Issue 5 | June 2009