In the Old Garden

The trees, aged through the years, resembled blackened

            statues.

The fountain was dry. A small bird, amazed by its

wings, stopped midair, pulled the thread of its song and

cut it; then it re-joined the pieces. The old trees raised

their heads and looked. The fountain passed five pearls

through the thread of the bird.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096TLBNFK