Cardinal on Snowy Branches by Helen ONeal
January Cardinal
by Paulette Demers Turco
Perched high, aloof,
thick feathers poofed–
uncamouflaged–
I’m high above,
the holly bush,
its emerald lush,
its ruby berries
deep snow buries
in winter white
as fell last night.
Powder lies thick.
I can be quick.
I’ll flit from branch
to branch to branch
to waxy leaf,
my stops so brief.
Each frosted berry
will be very
hard to clasp
without a rasp
in hasty flight.
Soon morning light
will start the melt.
I may be dealt
a fearful fate
without my mate
if I don’t dart
before the start
of rounds of robins,
cedar waxwings,
bobbing, mobbing
berries–robbing
me. Unnerving.
I’ll dive. I’m starving.
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