Blackbirds

Blackbirds

Blackbirds look like pepper
in the sky
and go
whomp, whomp, whomp
when men jump
out
of their bellies.

Blackbirds breathe like jackhammers
pounding the air
and spit
lead teeth
when they kill
their prey.

Blackbirds cry like bottle rockets
on the 4^th of July
and piss
clouds of smoke
when they crash
to earth
with their broken wings.

Blackbirds steal your men like ladies
of the night
and whisper
sweet nothings
in their ears
when they begin
to remember
their way back home.