A Golden Afternoon: The Collected Poetry of the Late Matthew Packard

i looked upon the rocks

i looked upon the rocks
and saw an injured dove
whose untouched wings were clipped
clipped of body
and of spirit

i looked upon the rocks
and saw there a raven
whose clipped wings were untouched
free of pain
and of weakness

i looked upon the rocks
and saw the raven
move closer
slowly
smiling
toward the injured dove

i looked upon the rocks
and heard the dove coo sadly
as the raven
lurking closer
approached purity itself

i looked upon the rocks
and the white-winged dove
sang a sad song
and the raven
sang a death hymn

i looked upon the rocks
and saw evil
overcome good

i looked upon the rocks
and saw the white dove
turn black

i look upon the rocks now
and see two black doves
watch the sea turn ablaze

i look upon the rocks now
and the two black doves
define wickedness

i look upon the rocks
now
and hear the coo of
a faraway dove
a white dove
an innocent dove
an unknowing dove
a dove who doesn't know
that death awaits him

and it reminds me
of the first time

i looked upon the rocks