Carl Sandburg

From “Smoke Nights”

BECAUSE I have called to you

as the flame flamingo calls,

or the want of a spotted hawk

is called—

because in the dusk

the warblers shoot the running

waters of short songs to the

homecoming warblers—

because

the cry here is wing to wing

and song to song—

I am waiting,

waiting with the flame flamingo,

the spotted hawk, the running water

warbler—

waiting for you.