On hearing a cardinal on the way to church

 

         Beautiful red bird, sing!

         The day feels so wrong,

         and Hope has taken wing. 

 

         Stay to be this day’s feathered thing.

         Stay and fill my heart with song

         Holy cardinal, sing!

 

         I know it’s not to me you bring

         this gospel hymn three notes long,

         but today Hope has taken wing,

 

         and morning feels like mourning.

         I’ll listen now, and when we’ve gone,

         I’ll remember I heard a cardinal sing

 

         notes to carry into evening

         when this day is over and done

         and Hope remains on the wing.

 

         Tomorrow I will grasp the dawn,

         find courage in the day begun,

         listen again for a cardinal to sing,

         and wait for Hope to abandon its wing.