Joanna Gilman Hyde

The Hawk Portico NOON

Today I began reading a Baptist Tract on Sin & Salvation

inside the top of a boxed offering of baked goods

— a man brought the box to My Side Door

saying “It’s for Dr Blair — we’re giving them out

to people over seventy”

–

As I sat on My Portico in My Bathrobe

I looked at The Tract

The seven minutes it will take you to

read this message could be the most

valuable time you will ever spend

I read to the part where Everyone’s a Sinner

& a huge military (Fisheries?) jet buzzed

around the corner of My House

I looked up to The Aircraft until it was gone

& put The Tract back in Its food box

–

I made another cup of tea

–

I came out again to sit in The Sun

& hesitantly picked up The Tract

to read about Hell & Damnation

but The Plane came roaring again

My Hands went together

I crumpled up My Seven Most Valuable Minutes

into a snowball