The Art of Taxidermy

A moving and evocative verse novel about love and loss, and the way beauty can help make sense of it all

Later, I found a crow,

its feathers so black

they shone

with a blue tinge

in the bright sunshine.

It lay on its side

at the base of a jacaranda-

purple flowers scattered beneath-

as if it had fallen asleep,

floated down serenely

from a branch above.

I stroked its sleek feathers 

expecting it to wake,

flap strong wings and fly off,

but it slept on.