Wall, Emily
Names
Violet-crowned
Berylline
Broad-tailed
Cinnamon
Calliope.
Hummingbird names
unfurl on the tongue
like a curl of butter,
melting into the body’s
memory of hunger
and flight and the name
we carried like feathers
before we arrived
in this world—
and weighted ourselves
with solid bones
classified as
accountant
homeowner parent
mini-van soccer practice
diabetes overweight
suburbia.
Remember being Ruby-throated?
I almost do.
Copyright © Emily Wall 2012 |
![]() |