May 11, 2016 Poets United Midweek Motif, Birds/ The Red Wing Black Bird

The Red Wing Black Bird

                                               the red wing black birds are my favorites

if it is possible to have a favorite among birds

each creature perfect

but she with the red on her shoulders

singing her black bird song

                                                i know where to find her

she will always be

among the cat tails

she hangs on to the tall stalks

as they sway with the wind

                                               sometimes just a dark spot in the landscape

yet when she flies

the flash of red

tells me who she is

                                               only once did she come to my backyard feeder

i saw her from the window

thrilled that she would come

not her usual place

later, that same day she brought her mate

                                                a special day in my days of bird watching

she sang her black bird song

told me of the many places she had visited

told me her history

looked me in the eye

and then flew away

never looked back

                                               still i wait for her return

May 11, 2016