Mary Ruefle: "Keeping It Simple"

I take the bird on the woodpile,
separate it from its function, feather
by feather. I blow up its scale.
I make a whole life out of it:
everywhere I am, its sense of loitering
lights on my shoulder.

  "Keeping It Simple" by Mary Ruefle, from memling's veil (University of Alabama Press, 1982). © Mary Ruefle. Text as posted on the website of the Poetry Foundation.

Art credit: "Blue Bird on My Shoulder 2005," painting by Tascha.