The Bird in the Box, by Juliet Fossey

Toward the Blue Peninsula, by Joseph Cornell (USA) 1951-52

The Bird in the Box
after Joseph Cornell

Perhaps the artist didn’t understand.
A depiction of yearning requires
velvet, brocade, buttons.

Admittedly, the palette is soothing,
buff white, the breast 
of a snow bunting.

One small window 
proffers light. A relief of blue 
in all that beige.

I accept it is inspired,
how the perch divides 
the space: above, below.

But clearly the bird has flown.
Viewers can see
the seed feeder in situ -

a dish where the hungry 
came to eat. It is a simple bowl 
in porcelain, but lacks 

the gold of an escape. 
What a shame plumage 
is missing! To omit 

the vanes of the bird
is heart rending.
Two scraps of paper

represent its feathers -
mawkish curls, stiff
with cardboard quills. 

A word is scribbled on each:
the first says, "climb,"
and the second, "fly."

Juliet Fossey

​Juliet lives in’ Wordsworth’ country’ in the Lake District, U.K. She enjoys writing whilst walking on the fells and accepts getting wet is part of the creative process.  Her work has appeared in Pennine Platform, Mslexia  and Artemis.