Birdshot Poem by RIC BASTASA

just because no one saw
the tree falling does not mean
that there was no tree which
fell

logic has failed me.

it was a 'NO ENTRY' area
where the meshed wire
was removed like an
empty hole

the native girl broke
the rule
shot dead a Philippine eagle.

the father wants to save
her, concealed the gun, buried
it to play innocent

a herd of dead bodies were buried
on shallow grounds
which the grass has not accomplished
covering yet

above them the eagles fly
beside them the native girl watches
the opening of the secret wound.