Like Jesus, the crow extends his wings,
floating in air, feet dangling,
while the sparrows berate, dive at,
and peck him. Attuned to their fear,
he consents to their fury while a
red-winged blackbird observes
from a damp fencepost, withholding
judgment. Within the bird’s glossy
black heart, there is acceptance for
the way things are—the sky
never bluer than at this moment.

Jef Leisgang, Fort Atkinson, responds to writing that reveals the wonder and mystery of the everyday. He manages a bookstore on Madison’s East Side, and became a member of the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets last year.