I watch the little bird pluck with a mid-length beak at dry bark on the balcony overlooking the backyard. My hand grips the smooth wooden wine cooler as I demi, demi, grand plie, following the tiny blonde-haired lady’s glowing box on the screen. The sky is gray and I hate gloomy days but it wasn’t even supposed to be a gloomy day. No, it was supposed to be sunny and beautiful today and all the days of this week but instead the smoke has coated the sky and it is gloomy. The little bird plucks and carries the bit of dried bark across the balcony as I do ballet with my wine cooler and the remains of a burnt city floats above me.
POET BIO:
Aiko Offner is a writer based in Los Angeles. She enjoys writing creative nonfiction and poetry, and also enjoys dancing and playing piano in her spare time.