Ordinary pigeons
rise, swirl, and alight
on everyday lampposts
feathered iridescence
transforming my daily
afternoon errands
into a winged dance
ancient magic.
About the Author: Margarita Engle is the Cuban–American author of books about the island, most recently The Surrender Tree, Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom (Henry Holt & Co., 2008). The Poet Slave of Cuba (Henry Holt & Co., 2006) received many honors, including the American Library Association's Pura Belpre Medal, an International Reading Association Award, and the Americas Award, presented at the Library of Congress.
Copyright © 2008 by Margarita Engle. The poem may not be reproduced in any form without the author's express written permission.