The Knock
by Larry Sorkin
Daybreak’s flashy cardinal throwing
himself against my window tries
to rouse me into life. Minutes
pass while I ignore his call and dig
my head into the pillow before a sharp
thud drags me out of sleep to a goldfinch
on the deck, neck broken—a lemon
pixie flexing his tail, taking a last
breath. Dusk now, I wonder was I worth
the sacrifice? Did it
succeed in waking me? Did I
hear the knock?