Sailing

A bone-white gull slides as

if it’s wearing socks on hardwood

floors back & forth in the air

passing my window like Tom Cruise

in that movie. Streets deserted

but it doesn’t stop, eyes wild & yellow

with what—happiness?

Does a bird feel joy? Does it need to

be seen feeling . . . to feel? Maybe

when wind expands & contracts

like breath inside the landbound

the word means something different

to be able to rest on it

lie down upon itclimb it

fall through it & then catch

a rung—there

that it’s feeling without skin to hold it in

maybe simply becoming a sail for joy

blown wildly across the world

or down the avenues.