winter’s fierce winds
landscape’s embrace
white snow blankets
fall’s bounty
slim pickings for feathered friends
feeder sporting
seeds aplenty
magnetic attraction
from all compass points
wrens, sparrows, and a chickadee or two
an obnoxious blue jay
pushy, boisterous, rowdy
a timid house finch
ignores them all
a red-coated fellow waits
opportunity knocks
zooms, plucks a seed
a crimson streak, vanishes
the northern cardinal
again, this knightly bloke whooshes in
he’s undeterred
takes a choice morsel
alights a nearby limb
Sir Red, I dubbed thee
this Templar visits the feeder’s cache
day after day
departing as
swiftly as arriving
to a lady cardinal, waiting
he shares the spoils
caring for his mate
true devotion
Her Ladyship
I christen thee
winter’s cold yields to spring’s warmth
Sir Red’s songs proclaimed
his presence
his territory
his lady love
sunshine days and shorter nights
nesting fever abounds
Sir Red’s feeding forays increase
bringing food to Her Ladyship
brooding a clutch of eggs
treetop acapella echoes afar
chicks born this day
rejoice with us, rejoice
the bringer of life
this lady, my love
their season’s work now done
together at the feeder
still sharing
still caring
God’s perfect example
summer’s last week fading
Sir Red flies in, alone
stays, feeds, and leaves
Her Ladyship
nowhere seen
his songs have changed
but their meaning escapes me
what is he singing, is he singing?
week after week
he comes without her
fall erupts, its full splendor on display
wrens, sparrows, and finches galore
but Sir Red doesn’t come any more
was his song a lament for Her Ladyship lost?
I think is was
I hope he’s looking for another lady
I miss them both
they brought me joy and
taught me the meaning of true devotion
I wish him well
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