January Bride

Regarding the caged bird: we've got it wrong.
A bird is not the victim of its song,
or say the cage is not a cage.

On that wedding night
I was a white dress carrying flowers that were white.

A canary sings its loudest hymn of praise
when there's a formal structure to its days,
or say the cage and song are one.

On that wedding night
I was a white shoe stepping through a snowy street.

The heart is caged by ribs but none will claim
it would beat stronger still without its frame.
Or say the bone's necessity.

On that wedding night
I was a red coat vanishing in the dark.

Sarah Busse
Copyright © 2002

Sarah Busse is working towards her MFA at Bennington College. She has poems forthcoming in Diner Magazine.