In Passing

Sun met cold steps
Men congregated there, left
To rest their hats
To sit in other places.

(the time remaining)

Sun still met there
Folding cold with light
(the steps remained cold
and with no exception, uneven)
And there, alone, the parrot eater
Passing lone judgments
Feathers in his teeth
Set his will,
The heir to no fortune.

On the day of the parrot eater’s death
The sun met
(as is familiar)
Less the men and birds
Less the cold
To sit still in other places
Not unkempt by the passing.