Sunbirds – May Chong

Yesterday’s sky was an unending
aluminum glare, but in the park

the air rang hot with sunbirds
in daring lemon shirts

with olive coats, sharp
and agile, ever-flitting,

chipper pipping
twittering away. I almost flew

away. Under my eyes
the golden hours coiled

majestic, warm
and everlasting. Even when

they were gone, light shone
on my mute heart.

May Chong is a Malaysian poet and speculative writer. Her verse has been featured in Strange Horizons, Bending Genres, and Harbor Review. May’s nature-themed micro-chapbook, Seed, Star, Song (Ghost City Press) is available as a part of their Summer 2020 series.