Cardinal on Snowy Branches by Helen ONeal

Cardinal on a Snowy Branch
by Sharmagne Leland-St. John

At dawn Sister awakened me.
"The cardinals have arrived," said she.
Still in a dream, I pictured the
entire baseball team
on our lawn,
inviting us to sled
down Art Hill in Forest Park.

Against my will the room still dark,
I glanced through the dormer
and espied you on a
snow-laden branch.

"Why are you still here?"
I queried,
"When you could be in warmer
weather."

"And whatever did you do
to cause them to name
a sin for you?"

Stark against the snow,
I did not have to search.
There you were perched
upon a snowy branch,
as snowflakes danced
around your scarlet head.

In the dead of winter!



 

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