A Song for Jack—for Jack Myers

by Andrea Blancas Beltran

I knew a bird could sing
but I never knew a bird
            had a song
until you.

The ease of your laugh,
the way you crossed
            your legs
while enjoying tea       and discussing
poetry               according to the world
            and poetry
            according to us,
red tulips with yellow hearts,
and how I needed to talk
            to myself more.

You made it all
            look so easy.
Even the dust on the cracked window sill
had a perfect place       on your page —
how you made it look so glorious.

When I write
            I think of you

and wonder:
Would this be good enough
for Jack?