The Dark Birds

The dark birds came,

I didn’t know their name.

They walked in Hebrew on the sand

so I’d understand.

They sang, the sea flowed,

though no one made a road.

I shivered on the shore

when the water closed its door.

Then as I felt the birds return

to me like ashes to an urn,

and sunlight warmed the stones,

fire undressed my bones.