Come, peace, descend to us now
in the form
of an urban pigeon.
Underfoot everywhere, disregarded,
fed by children on sugar biscuits,
and by old people on hoarded crumbs.
Flocking all over, rising up at a sudden alarm
to settle back in a flutter of wings,
unafraid, beautiful, ubiquitous,.
Grey, barred, or brown,
with a preen of glorious pink,
bright-eyed, head cocked, bold.
Descend into the interstices of our lives,
peck round our park benches, strut past our summits,
nest on our ledges, circle our rooftops.
Billing and cooing, pouting and searching,
come down to the hearts of our cities
and be everywhere taken for granted.
24th June 2016, Loggia dei Lanzi, Florence
