Adam’s heart
suddenly shuttered
but now dives and flutters
in a waiting rib cage
not his own –
a cardinal who
lost his song he
hopped up strong, he
perched on the sill
and pecked at the pane
he pecked at the pain
asking
to be let in
to be let out
so another could fly
and trace a song across the canvas of sky,
the haunting refrain,
the embers, remains
of the song we learned so long ago –
should auld acquaintance be forgot,
no –
a dash of red darting
a heart now restarting
a crimson fleeting
a rhythmic beating
against the pale
against the blue
against the vast
against the cold
against the mute
winter sky.
Halfway North 