A rufous whistled
and hummed
at my open door.
She flew at my heart
picked and snatched
hairs from my chest
for her nest.
Me flat on my back on the floor
while she sits on my face
hooked to my lips
slicing my eyes
like an ophthalmologist.
Her every winged flush
as sweet and powerful
as a rush of butterflies
falling
filling
my coughing joy.
To and fro
true and from
until
‘harumph’!
she blurted out
and bolted off
as quickly as she came.
I thought she was a unicorn
or a rhinoceros with wings.
She left me
without a prayer.
The Coming of the Toads 