Photo: Larry Fallon

The Cardinal Sit

(or, simply, Sitting)

I hear the bird,

I really hear the bird

my body a’sunk, lower

and spirit a’rose, higher

thorns fall from stem

and stem elongates

it’s me and the bird,

being together

the bird with its nature

and me with mine

but neither one

ultimately one

I suddenly feel my lips

smile the bird’s breath

but re-mind myself

to stop — from here,

the smile still softens

— esm