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“The Cages” by James Tate 🇺🇸 (8 Dec 19438 Jul 2015)
The insular firebird
(meaning the sun) gives up
the day, and is tucked into
a corner. Order, like
a giant janitor, shuttles
about naming and replacing
the various humanities.
I look at you, you look
at me—we wave again
(the same), our hands like
swollen flags falling, words
marooned in the brain.