Pigeons in Early Light

Two, in the grey of dawn, the large birds are
Settled in plum-tree branches deep in flower
A knight's move from my window here.

Another, full of its business, has flown
High up into a pine and walks upon
A horizontal branch, half-seen

Through the clustered quills. The two in the plum-tree sit
Among white flowering twigs like native fruit,
Close though a little separate.

I could not tell at first what kind of bird
Made dusk in the unborn day - until one reared
Its beautiful small serpent head

Weaving in air, on the too fine neck above
The cumbered heavy weight of the emblem dove;
And made its single tree a grove -
...