Gulls

In Homer, the gods

take the place of consciousness.

For me, it is birds.

Gray gulls

seen from above,

a tan and white pigeon

bringing amoral intelligence

to the balcony wall.

Geoff says they are really getting tough on birds

in Brighton. Bringing in a bylaw.

I remember his balcony

it’s really just the roof of the room downstairs

but when you climb out the window

you get a view of the sea

and the ferris wheel

which I believe is gone, or going

it was an eyesore

all the locals said

though I — of course — 

thought it was wonderful

and the burned-down pier

out in the water.