the white feather

The White Feather.


I found a peacock’s tail feather in the yard
it was brilliantly blue, but it had tiny insects
on a type of nit, I used insect spray and
rinsed it under the kitchen tap.

The feather lost its brilliance, is now matt
and white, but I can explain; lacking nerve
isn’t cowardice, but lack of self confidence,
a blight that often strikes the poor.