A word can bounce around in my
Almost knowing just barely
Scarcely avoiding
tongue
A word can fly from my
Almost stopping just barely
Scarcely parting
Lips
A word can echo echo through my
Almost joining just barely
Scarcely muttering
Prayers
But I have yet to find
A single word for
That bird’s shadow
Swinging just barely
Scarcely across our green lawn
Seen, not said, through
My kitchen window
My hands warm in soapy water