Southeast Review: Dad the Perch

First published in Southeast Review, Issue 44.1 Spring 2026

 Dad, the Perch 

Sheila’s tiny talons / at Dad’s shoulder scratching / caress of a loved one / she wipes her face / on

Dad’s collarbone / cuddles his ear / searches out flaky bits / of dandruff / grabs them lengthwise /

in her beak / joins Dad / in the shower / curtain rod-perch / water babbling / quick hop / to ersatz rain

/ familiar shoulder / Dad keeps birds / Florida Guy / Sheila is a cheap / cockatiel / unlike parrots /

not to be bred / lemon and feather / hollow bones / and wordless acquiescence / make Dad tender

/ on the porch / Sheila clings / to his shirt / Dad rests / his hand / on her back / like a bow tie /

absent-minded / not even yelling / when Sheila squats quick and shits / down his front / Dad

just coos / and walks to the sink / Sheila / favorited daughter / whose wings / are not to be clipped

/ shock of plumage standing / electric / at her crown / sits like a puny boss / while Dad mows /

the lawn / brains / to his hulking hairy body / maybe I’m making too much / Dad loved us too /

but it was / her name / he called / into the dusk / her face / he searched for / in the trees /

after she flew