Count and Countess Cardinal
by Scott Shaffer

This morning, snow continues its quiet, relentless descent–
fresh, sparkling, pristine–oh, so white. Like most days,

my dear wife and I sip tea, sup on breakfast in our four-seasons porch.
A count clad in scarlet gracefully undulates into view,

settles among the sparse branches of our iconic, leaning pine–
a resplendent ruby in our winter wonderland.

His crimson attire and prominent crest speak royalty; black mask
suggests mystery, daring. A nearby flutter reminds us that he escorts

his lovely countess-for-life; she alights nearby–fawn-colored
with warm, reddish tints on her wings, crest, and tail;

her micro mask hides little, but adds to her charm.
He cracks a seed with his coral-colored beak;

then he feeds her … tenderly … beak-to-beak.
To defend her or their nest in a low bush, the chivalrous count

is known sometimes to fight his own reflection in the window.
Touched by their lifelong romance, years ago, we christened them

our, “Family Birds.” Maybe they call to mind our own mutual trust
and commitment–affirmed countless times in 42 years of marriage.

We smile across the antique dropleaf table–
daily satisfied, joyful, thankful … to “do life together.”



 

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