I pledge alliance

I pledge alliance
(after Carrie Newcomer)

I pledge alliance
to the willows’ curve
cricket song
owls in conversation

I pledge alliance
to kind words, 
thoughtful discourse
let birds bicker
at the feeder
we can do better

I pledge to see
the whole you,
step around your wounds
to listen, 
especially when I differ

I pledge alliance 
to my strongest fealty,
the one truth
that holds us all