Aerial Survey

AERIAL SURVEY
by Rod Scott

City tough and town wise
they plotted their course
with seeming abandon,
A veer here, and
A jibe there, black
lightning in the
cloudless sky.

Unkempt buildings have
poor roof drainage;
But, behold!
The pools on top
mirror the missing sun
the pools
mirror azure skies.

Flocks of city tough
and town wise sparrows
arrow down to drink
deeply from the
gravelly pond,
and ponder gravely
apathetic men.


Birmingham, AL January 24, 1996
(from the 13th floor window)