Wait

Wife

Wife We waited in the field like birds. We ran and hid in the fields to watch. Oh make me a big house. Make me a blackbird. I want to be a blackbird. But I was not. I was hidden in beige. I was hard corn left for the animals. We were hiding from men, our father and uncles, who would throw us in air, leave us in trees, mistake for laughter our screams. On the back of their motorbikes, into our legs, the engines burned names. One summer they killed the hornets by dosing the nest in gas, a turban in flames.The peacocks tore at the cars.The hunting dogs were all chained.At the first dust swirl, I stood up. I got in a car for a strawberry cream. Heat gave the road a ghost, and I wanted to be dancing. Now I want to be -3- a bird again. I want to be waiting. Why did we stop waiting? We were fine.We were fine, eating berry burrs and mouse seed.The birds landed in our braided hair, and the men called but could not find us.You were coming.You were coming. I didn’t know. I would have curled in a rabbit whorl, a mouse nest, in leaf-spilled shade. I am a bird in the field and I want you to find me. I want you to find me.Tell me wait. -4- It’s the devil I loved. Neko Case ...