Bent on my desk
an orange origami crane sits
one among a rainbow flock.
But it is that one
the light through the bent blind
illuminates as if chosen from on high.
And an imperfection
in the window glass
magnifies the intensity of the light
until it appears that one crane
practiced self-immolation
after browning and bursting
into orange flame
that mocked the color
of the crane’s paper.
I did not strike the flame
with the flat of my hand
but watched it flare and die out
leaving no mark on my desk
except a little flecks
when I swept up the ash.
And I swear I saw
the other paper cranes
spontaneously divulge haiku
as if the heat from the flame
caused lemon juice script
to darken.
copyright © 2021 Kenneth P. Gurney
Umflop 