Small Talk

Small Talk

In the foothills by the one road
leading up a mockingbird leaps

into shortlived flight from grass to low
branches: on its fully extended wings

the white wing markings meet
into a lowercase “o” which is

the foothills’ song: quiet
unmarked and not to be mocked

8 thoughts on “Small Talk”

  1. andrea blancas beltran's avatarandreakbeltran

    I love how the couplets and shorter, enjambed lines work to mirror the leaping of the mockingbird within the poem. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply ↓
    1. Jeff Schwaner's avatarJeff Schwaner Post author

      Thanks! With the Mei Yao-ch’en sequence, enjambment is at a premium because of the style I am trying to emulate. So it’s good to reach out beyond that here with the line breaks here.

      Reply ↓
  2. Chris's avatarChris

    I was too quick on the return key — I meant to write, “I love how this one builds to the final couplet.”

    Reply ↓

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