Softly lift the tools of your secret witching.
\nMake no noise your mothers will hear, no telltale
\nscrape of knife on stone; keep your setup silent.
\nAnswer no questions.
Birds will sing these songs with you–meet them, trill for
\ncry. Then, under daybreak blue morning quiet,
\nhand your tools to birds. See how quickly crows learn
\nwitching with women.
Knives in birds' claws, knives scraping sharp-edged secrets–
\nfeel the heavy pleasure of being tied to
\ncrows, who know more witchcraft than humans; still they
\nwait for us, cackling.
Cast your spells in whistles, in lines cut deep in
\nwood, in feathers taken from willing birds, who,
\nloyal comrades, hide these small witchings, singing.
\nBirdsong keeps secrets.
Day comes swiftly, wakes all the sleeping, hungry,
\nbringing pains and mundane cares. Put your tools in
\nsafer places. Crows with your knives, if seen, are
\ndangerous. Thank them.
© 2025 Devin Miller
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