bright flames at kiln mouth

silent pots await the heat

thrush singing above

greedy fire monster

we feed you little sticks now

but later, whole trees.

single notes of liquid

while I, earthbound, feed the flame

below the realm of air

buzzards mewing high

my brave song bird is silent

the day shift arrives

christmas tree branches

green triple fringe fingers

spreading their network

three hours of thrush song

now he is silent and so

the words have fled too.