He never believed
in his magic
being particularly 
potent

             until the rat trap
       caught four fat ones
                       then a tiny
                           sparrow.

That’s why
you shouldn’t
set your spells
and forget about them

                      he was told
                  over and over
               he saw feathers
                     on concrete

whenever he closed
his eyes—
wanting to keep them
out of mind

               but more come
                       flying back
        looking for the trap
                hexed to fulfill

his hope of catching
something warm
to hold, so still 
he sets spells

                  fully knowing
                      they return
      in unexpected forms.
He doesn’t mind

all the feathers
all the red concrete