of the birds we kept 
seeds in our pockets
our hands swooping 
to sprinkle dirt

eyes migrated
to uninterrupted sky
found the bare curve
of power lines 

plastic bags
snagged on branches
the rustle of skin 
scattered song

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Prompt

Imagine a world where a single species no longer exists, how might this affect you personally, unexpectedly. What would you miss? What have you taken for granted? Write a short poem that outlines this loss and the behaviors your grief might bring to try and bring the species “to life” again.

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Jared Beloff is the author of Who Will Cradle Your Head (ELJ Editions, 2023). His work can be found at AGNI, Baltimore Review, and EcoTheo Review. You can find him on his website http://www.jaredbeloff.com. He is a teacher who lives in Queens, NY with his wife and two daughters.