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Jasmine Zhen

Redmond

Youth Poet

Featured image for Ode to the Flightless Bird

Ode to the Flightless Bird

Tomorrow’s grocery list lies contorted in the child’s hands,
Crease, fold, smooth, and a bird is born,
Thrown to the will of the wind— mayday, mayday!
The paper avian plummets into the rippling stream;
All-knowing aquamarine, oblivious to our
Futile maps and mind-made manifests,
Bring this flightless bird
Home.