APRIL 14: Hayley Bernier
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE GOOD
After Mary Oliver
Standing in the grass
under wet sunlight, the goose
seems to ponder its place.
It stares devotedly forward
as if attending the morning’s sermon,
fervent, waiting for the correct call
to allow a burst from stillness
into joyful, confident direction.
But gentle panic slips into its neck
as it curves to allow preening of the wings;
filler conversation,
fidgeting patience.
There is no misinterpreting the mournful tone
as it raises its head high
and blares again its siren.
Pitying humans shake their heads,
summoning teary eyes
at the example of despair in the backyard.
Is it unfortunate to use force for the greater good?
Was it against nature to throw a sheet over the bird,
and press it into a cage in order to free it?
It rattled in the back seat,
as the car drove to the riverbank,
human words of comfort floating
uselessly between them all.
The last seen of the beast was as it emerged
from the small metal door,
straightened its body, and pattered out onto the water,
bobbing for a second
on the harsh current before sprinting towards the sky,
as if just at this moment,
it remembered it could fly.
Hayley Bernier (she/her) is a queer writer and editor from Richmond, Quebec. Hayley writes poetry but is also trying really really hard to draft a novel. She aspires to be a published writer and editor, but given the job economy, she would also do any job involving animals. She loves sushi, reading by the fireplace channel, and cackling with friends. This poem was previously published in Hillfire Anthology Volume 4, published by Hillfire Press on May 30th, 2025.