Ode to the Northern Cardinal

O black veiled creature of

stark vermillion,

perched high amongst
intertwining limbs
bursting infant leaves of spring!

Your majestic crest rises above
the dull sparrow,
as you sing a repetitive reverie of
love and protection
from a timeless land
of enchanted beauty.

Beaded eyes locked together
in tranquil nourishment,
one seed at a time into her
waiting beak,
you nurture as you sing
a duet
with your
forever companion.

Huddling together in a feathery mass
within the depths of winter,
you sing only on the brightest days.
Catching sight of your redness
within tired, snowy white banks
is to catch sight of hope
when color has faded.



This poem came about from my love and awe for the northern Cardinal bird. The male sings to protect its territory from other male birds. Imagine a world where humans sang to protect their territories! During courtship, the male sings with his mate, feeds her and mates with her for life.  Northern cardinals typically do not migrate for the winter.  They stay put and only sing on days when the sun is very bright.   Cardinals are everywhere here in Wisconsin but catching sight of one is always a beautiful surprise.