Gulls

on a slack wire
over the river,
under a low
soft-bellied sky, 

make room, keep
a foul or fair
weather eye
on each other,

observe 
the required
distances between 
neighbouring 

lives –– an abacus
adding up 
to its own
prime number

ready 
at a thought-beat
to unfold
separately 

or as one,
leaving the river
to reflect on
the undone