Their fantails of white

their snowy mantles

their diving sorties

and then you remember
the day you left that chapel
its candle scented darkness
how you added another flame

how on the road out of town
an eagle dived onto the road
in front of your car as if to retrieve
something too precious to leave
how you locked eyes

before it lifted to disappear
into blued skies blurring
behind your tears and you knew
then how prayers morph into answers
knew in that very moment
your brother was gone

released from snaking lines
that tethered him to earth
remembered the coolness
of his cheek against your lips
as your bid him that final goodbye
know now his Spirit Guide
to be an eagle and how you’ll wait
to see him again.