Cardinal Haiku — for motherhood
Over at Poetry for Life, I’m sharing one of my cardinal haiku, written on my back patio. When I write outside I use a green coaster with a red cardinal, part of a Christmas set that belonged to my mother. It makes me feel that Mama Cardinal is ever present, even though she no longer dwells in my mountain laurel bush.
After the ice storm of 2021 that we refer to as either the Snowpacalypse or Snowmageddon, in which many people were without power and water for weeks, our mountain laurel had to be cut way back. It is regaining its height, but Mama and Papa Cardinal moved on.
Did Mama Cardinal feel sorrow when her tree was cut down? Does she know I’m the one who did it? Would she have enough tears to make tear-water tea?
Vespers — marble-sized
hail. After the storm passes
Mama Cardinal sings.

I loved this book. As soon as I finished, I began reading it again.”
—David Lee Garrison, author of Playing Bach in the D. C. Metro