they cry
these gulls
like infants
no one here
to cradle them
rock them to sleep
a grandmother’s song
to ease them
into the fading light
I stand on my balcony
raise my glass
wishing them peace
this hot night
seagulls
the night endless
the night
endless
disjointed dreams
and gulls
laughing
in the distance
here on land
the seagulls
keep calling
calling
here on land
for the sea
Maltepe morning
sipping coffee
six floors up
gazing seaward
the gulls
gliding by
with promises
of flight
6:15am, Maltepe, Istanbul
the calls
of the gulls
as they fly
past the balcony
another type
of morning prayer
the second morning of Bayram, 2115, in Maltepe
first cup
of coffee
watching ships
at sea
the gulls
my companions
peace here
on earth
momentary neighbor, 5am, Maltepe
sitting
on my balcony
staring
at the lights
on the islands
out at sea
a gull
rests a minute
on the ledge
to stare
at me
tip my glass
say hello
neighbors
this moment
in time
the cat and seagulls
the cat
watches
seagulls
from
the windows
facing
the sea
and thinks
I imagine
like most
of us
of the freedom
of flight
Leonard Durso 