and they will carry her soul to heaven

She is blue light,
the color of sky,
the fork-tailed bird
who flies unexpected
ever dancing with
swoops and swirls,
the song on the radio,
a familiar beat
for a silent heart
soaring in the blue,
with a flutter
and a wave
and a shimmy shake,
I am sure of it.

Poem ©2018, Jen Payne. Image: The Motionless Swallow. Study for ‘Still Life – Fast Moving, Salvador Dali. Title, from Wikipedia: “The swallow tattoo was a symbol used historically by sailors to show off their sailing experience. Of British origin in the early days of sailing, it was the image of a barn swallow, usually tattooed on the chest, hands or neck. … It is also said that if the sailor drowns, the swallows will carry their soul to heaven.”