He stood across the street
his dog on leash.
They were looking up,
I thought at the sailor’s sunset,
but when I saw the crows
I understood
what kept the pair
anchored to that sidewalk,
neither moving,
heads tilted toward
the black flock passing overhead,
countless beating evening wings
heading homeward,
so many the sky darkened
until brightly piled high
reddened sunset clouds
again dominated skies,
the bird’s haunting calls
a memory at dusk.