like rain the thunder
inside the tall gothic church
a man kisses the pieta
max is at the organ
composing a creation hymn
called apple and snow
all night the wind
wraps itself around the city
like a bell that does
not ring in danger but prayer
and genya’s voice
falls from a clock
as she calls her children
kazia, stefan, hendrich, janek
her hand closes around
a winter apple
and somebody probably kazia
puts the kettle on
then all four children
gather their shadows
and become birds