Saturday, October 5, 2024

Mari-Lou Rowley : Heart of a Bird

 

 

There, on the doormat, the size of an olive
is a tiny heart left as a gift

There, to understand instinct, the hunter in all of us
as we go about our day in heartbreak or joy

There, the small glistening organ the colour of plums
once fostered trill lilting calls

There, a path along the river, once four footprints,
two hearts shared the day, and night

There, a mate once brought twigs and leaves
sharing the duties of nest and worms

There, the night breaks open its orange moon
mouth
 full, silent.

 

 

 

 

Eco-science poet and interdisciplinary adventurer Mari-Lou Rowley has encountered a timber wolf, come between a black bear and her cub, interviewed an Italian astronaut, found over 66 four-leaf clovers, and published ten collections of poetry. Her most recent books are, Catastrophe Theories (Anvil Press 2022) Unus Mundus (Anvil Press 2013) and Transforium (JackPine Press 2012) in collaboration with visual artist Tammy Lu. Her work has appeared internationally in literary, arts and science-related journals including the Journal of Humanistic Mathematics (US) and Aesthetica Magazine’s (UK) Creative Works Competition.