His girlfriend dumped him, and he started cutting again.

Jared Pearce grew up in California and now lives in Iowa.

His girlfriend dumped him, and he started cutting again.

Starling phalanx westward

on the grass, jabbing

the earth, at one moment

uncertain what they see

is real, then, on the hunch,

the drive down. Nothing

dissuades their wobble

and wade, not the dew

brushing their tails,

not the traffic just clotting

the dawn, not the man

watching them, wishing

his son could see this

feathered parable.