Brian Sambourne Poet Free verse

Haven

his lean equine face with dust-brown eyes
defines hardship
a gaunt frame
undernourished 
he squats on city pavement 
there in the crook of his neck and shoulder
                                     a white bird
                                     cradled, stroked
                                     cooing

"I bought the dove with my can money when the pet store
closed." 
he shakes his can of coins at me like keys jingling 
                                                            at locked doors
a delicate coarseness
this vagabond
human haven
for a white dove
something sacred
that's he's obliged to care for
that spikes sustainable

refractive light at how we view others
cut by luck decomposing
as sunlight squeezes into city hatchways
                                       into stories we don't own
                                       into a soiled world that sometimes
                                       falls away like hands from a piano



Poem composed July 3, 2023

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Constance La France July 21, 2023 at 2:10 PM Brian, wonderful poem, I love how creative it is and congratulations on your win in my Writing Challenge H Words ! Brian Sambourne July 21, 2023 at 2:37 PM Your contests certainly induce creative freedom in our submissions. Thank you again for that liberating invitation to write. Sincerely, Brian

Paula Goldsmith July 4, 2023 at 10:58 AM Congratulations on your win. A wonderful write/story. I enjoyed reading it. Have a blessed/great day................. Brian Sambourne July 4, 2023 at 11:05 AM Thank you, Paula, for reading my work + commenting. Much appreciated. Cheers, Brian

Anne-Lise Andresen July 4, 2023 at 6:22 AM - A really great poem, Brian - Congratulations on your win - Brian Sambourne July 4, 2023 at 6:39 AM Thank you Anne-Lise. Usually my poems about street people don't fair well on Poetrysoup. However, I couldn't resist this urban image of a man taking comfort from his bird - a mutually dependent relationship. I hope that you are well. Thanks again, Brian

Paul Callus July 4, 2023 at 1:00 AM A striking poem which depicts an equally striking relationship between animals and humans, Brian. The introductory imagery is excellent, but so is the rest of the poem. Regards // paul Brian Sambourne July 4, 2023 at 6:41 AM Hi Paul. I am most appreciative of your uplifting comment. Thank you. Our neighborhood pet store closed after decades of operation. A few weeks later I encountered this chap with his bird. Strange how life gives one poetry. Be well. Sincerest regards, Brian

Sotto Poet July 3, 2023 at 3:30 PM Dear Brian, your poetry is a tapestry woven with brilliant metaphors. The profound musings you express, accompanied by captivating imagery, leave me in awe, my dear friend. The way you depict the way we perceive others as refractive light, and how fortune can dismantle our existence, is truly remarkable. It is as if sunlight infiltrates the narrow alleyways of the city, seeping into narratives that do not belong to us, into a tainted world that occasionally crumbles away like hands relinquishing a piano. Brian Sambourne July 3, 2023 at 4:30 PM Hello dear fellow poet, Thank you Lasaad for your gracious comments. I wish that I could live up to your most thoughtful appraisal. The poem is based on a true occurrence. A displaced person coveted his bird like treasure - there the bird nestled between neck + shoulder cooing contentedly. Be well dear fellow. Cheers, Brian