Half the day (From 21st Century Retablo series)

POEM: half the day I searched for what was lost:/ book of stamps keys to the house your wedding ring/ I found a half-born blue jay by the back door/ feathers more like fur eggshell splinters scattered over/ a burning body/ held in the crux of my hand the jay shivered as a new-/ born the heart fluttered beat asymmetrical rhythms/ above me in the still-bare arms of an ailing tree/ two jays screamed took flight left me/ to wash my soiled hand/