Yakitori

I’ve eaten

The hearts of birds

pierced on fine bamboo

in one of those upscale 

Japanese pubs

I’m sure 

the kitchen staff 

also learn the knack 

of skewering the 

flesh of the heart

so that it’s effortless 

just so 

I watch your eyes 

measuring me

in the morning 

looking for 

an opening 

and why 

should I mind

are we not always 

sharpening our swords

on one another