fields of sky, roads to perdition

On the corner of Spring Garden Road
and Westminster Drive
every year the makeshift sign is planted in
the grass in the front yard:

"Baby Duck Crossing
Slow Down
Do Not Kill"

a formation of wild geese
honking overhead,
serendipity,
I smile out loud

blood-red eye-wide open poppies
are in full
bloom in Afghanistan,
in front of the house
next door, too.