“This poem is an approach towards an understanding of the self through examining interspecies relationships, and part of a series of poems that explores queer, genderfluid indigeneity through deep observation of wild birds. The underlying image in this particular poem is a still capture taken from a visual representation of the calls of American Bushtits (Psaltriparus minimus), which are small, gray, puff-like birds known to move about in tittering, noisy flocks, and who take on movements often described as ‘nervous’ or ‘swarming.’ The overlay of text imposes human language (using words in both English and CHamoru) onto the imprint of avian language, suggesting, perhaps, one possible translation of queerness.”
—Lehua M. Taitano