She spoke of the shape of the question
drew it across her heart
lay the words out about her tongue
padded them, patted them into form
and filled the narrow spaces
with the echoes of her past
the sorrowed flight of the sparrow
seeking the grace of the eagle
the height of majestic mountain clouds
sailing across the desert night
shining their moon ahead
taming each cactus with their attention

She spoke of the shape
of the question wrapped carefully
weighed and measured to fit the drift
of the salt sea breeze grazing
quietly by the low hills
nibbling on the owl and the mouse
and on the sparrow.