At Last You’re Here

by Anna van Valkenburg

I’ll be at the Bird’s birthday.

At the table there will be bears,

horses, yellow bats.

I’ll put my hair in order, I’ll sit

up straight like hard rain, like anywhere

I’ve been. Come too

and spread yourselves

out like notes

across the junipers.

A thorn to hold down the evening

I will grow into the ground.

Pull me out, make me visible,

Then erase me.

Then erase the bird.