They burst into existence
a wingspan of eighth notes
violin case their marquee
but a wasted occasion
to try fate on like a purple dress
and embody a ballet
written by a Russian god
for a dying swan.
Zürich imports dozens
sowing cygnets into canals
each saccharine neck curved
like the body of a cello.
You and I watch them
glide past dangling feet
tapping our toes to the troupe’s crescendo
marking the silence
that grew between our
long-distance duet.
Another white bird
floats under us
and defecates
marring the turquoise shimmer
until the lake’s meter
makes it disappear.
Only it doesn’t
not really.
The entropy is merely scattered
molecule next to molecule
hydrogen hydrogen shit and oxygen
mouth mouth ellipsis and breath
but I am the one who sees the waves break the mire
I kiss you stranger
and let your exhale
plume over me too.
/
KALEIGH WALTER is a poet, prose writer, and nonprofit fundraiser living in Minneapolis. She holds an MFA from Concordia University, St. Paul, and she's working on her first novel. Her work is featured in West Trestle Review and Book of Matches. Twitter/X: @KaleighWalter, Instagram: @kaleigh_walter.