The poem wants to open

with pollen and seeds

but the poet disagrees.

They both love cherry blossoms

because each knows the smell

of petals on wet bark.

The poet puts a baby bird

in the tree but the poem

pushes it out.

Why would you do that?

cries the poet.  It's better

this way, says the poem.

There is an argument,

in which a broken wing

takes on many meanings.

At one point,

it is a Japanese fan

then, a molted summer dress.

The poet rubs his temples

while the poem rolls

in the must of feathers.

The poet's girlfriend

comes in to ask

when they might go to bed.

The poet says ten minutes

but the poem

says now.