Peregrine Falcons

Rachael Aiyke
1 min readMar 10, 2024

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Photo by Brian Yurasits on Unsplash

Previously published on Salamander Ink Magazine (can’t find the link)

“how we save the world, Rachael?"
by saving ourselves.

I will say a prayer for you:

when the leaves fall in winter,
& the cold turns you in your grave
I'll place a blanket on your earth
& cover you in my warmth.

& when it gets hard to breathe
I'll remember;
you make it hard to not.

peregrine falcons. spaghettis.
oceans. pockets.
colors. nature.
it's beautiful with you—was.

"how can we save the world, Rachael?"
by saving ourselves.

then I'll remember you in a box,
defined.
like beauty trapped
as oceans in pockets.

you said to say you a prayer,
so I uttered:
may you be happy.

six feet away
from what scarred you.

I said:
may you be happy.

saving myself now,
as I know you have.
save the world.
save yourself.

may you be happy.

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Rachael Aiyke

Realist. Evolved Feminist. Blogger. Poet. Mental Health Advocate. Research Writer.