Dove Song

Hailey Leithauser

Murmurous muezzin, hedge-
hiding, no reason to
silence for never I’d harm
you, not Rueheart, not
Loveliest Throat,
instead have you hand-
held, no hawk then
to sight you, no kestrel, no
cause, my Abiding, to fly from
my earshot; my Dawn Call
in coldest, in chiffony wind-
den, in aspen, in linden, your whisper
unfolding, your choir
not sough but a shriving,
a grieving of gladness; now ever
your pipe and my tremor
and ever, my Autumn,
my wrist and your measure.

Hailey Leithauser is the author of Swoop. She has published work in 32 Poems, The Antioch Review, Dark Horse, The Gettysburg Review, The Hopkins Review, and elsewhere.
Originally published:
October 1, 2018

Featured

Searching for Seamus Heaney

What I found when I resolved to read him
Elisa Gonzalez

What Happened When I Began to Speak Welsh

By learning my family's language, I hoped to join their conversation.
Dan Fox

When Does a Divorce Begin?

Most people think of it as failure. For me it was an achievement.
Anahid Nersessian

You Might Also Like

Boats

Hailey Leithauser

Invitation

Hailey Leithauser

Incarcerated Language

Reginald Dwayne Betts

Newsletter

Sign up for The Yale Review newsletter to receive our latest articles in your inbox, as well as treasures from the archives, news, events, and more.