Poems by Zeke Shomler
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As Long As We Have Windows
by Zeke Shomler
From Canary Summer 2023
Zeke lives and writes within view of the Alaska range on the unceded lands of the Dena people of the lower Tanana River. At this time of year, he'll be enjoying the Arctic midnight sun.
Pay attention to the source of light.
As long as we have windows
for birds to fly into,
birds will fly into them
and they will crumple on the sidewalk below,
twitching with snapped necks.
Look up: see how the sun
illuminates its feathers and passes
through the window like
unremarkable magic. Despite all
that we have done, despite all who we have
wronged—the white rhinoceros,
the jaguarundi, the thylacine—ourselves—
despite the casual and daily destruction,
the tangle of feathers and hollow bone
shimmering on hot asphalt—
despite the terror, the sun
is a source of warm light
and there is always, somewhere,
despite the worst of our
transgressions,
something shining.
© Zeke Shomler