I Am Poem by Jenny Kalahar

I am a redbird in a tree hole
knitting and weaving my nest
eyes alert for other knitters
sitting to make sure
the size will be right for winter

I am a squirrel digging
before this ground is frozen and too hard
to hide what I carry
like important words in my mouth

I am a crow calling
sharper than intended
louder across the corn
than is necessary to be heard
because the one I call to is beside me
feeling everything I am feeling, too

I am a stray cat in barn straw
claiming my place for winter
molding it to my curves
teaching these stalks my outline
coating them with fur

I am a wandering fox
sniffing close to the line of cattle
wondering if my kits are well
wondering if the cows will let me stay
to be warmed by their greywhite exhalations
when the nights turn deadly cold,
on those nights I'll feel too alone