Bird

My sister’s house boasts a large picture window
south facing just off her
kitchen and below it or in the bush
near it lives a bird
who has knocked itself silly running
into the glass

Daily
more than once a day
my sister and her family will hear
the bird shuffle her wings and launch into
flight
just to smack face first into the glass

My sister is not cruel and has
left the window dirty
put up a shade
drawn the blinds
marked the glass with tape to show it
as a barrier
to remind the bird of the pain and
nevertheless she persists

Was she stupid after the first time
she flattened her face into the windowpane
or did it take time after time after time after time
and at what point did it stop being a choice

how many times will she have to nearly die
knock herself backwards
start over