corrected

a horse is a horse
of course
and a pigeon is
a rat with wings
according
to my grandmother
who said it
every time, every time
she took this
little country girl
to the city.
(that’s me.)
the first time,
pigeons seemed
to me
to be
exotic and pretty
like Asian babies.
but, pulling my sleeve
grandma announced:
don’t touch!
they are rats with wings!
filthy
beggars
bums
disease.
without looking
the other seniors
at the bus stop
snorted
and agreed.
maybe it was
the first time
something beautiful
and nice
corrected,
right
before
my
eyes.

photo by kristen. words by grace.