were i a hummingbird

were i a hummingbird 

i’d hover,

over earth until 

guilty verdicts 

reverberated 

from the laws of gravity.  

were i a hummingbird 

i’d make home 

of her garden, 

and of her olive skin 

which steeps in the green and gold 

of the afternoon 

and iridescence 

percolating through the branches. 

were i a hummingbird 

i’d live swiftly, 

so swiftly she did hear my colors 

writing songs through her lantana. 

were i a hummingbird 

i'd flicker,

into spring and through every direction of her wildest dreams,

like the interweaving lines on her palms

and out from each one of her fingertips. 

were i a hummingbird 

i’d return, 

today, and every today after.

were i a hummingbird 

i'd hope she were hearing,

i'd hope she were seeing

i’d hope she were smiling,

i'd hope that she were nearing

i'd hope she were

were i a hummingbird,

(and she would be).