Red

Red

   The plum orchard is naked,
   a blank canvas awaiting
   a new paint job
   in pink, red and green.

   The potted geraniums' two red
   blossoms groom the window sill,
   showing off their four seasons.

   Snow is falling.
   Teardrops fill the pane
   like a crying baby.

   A red ball flutters,
   swirls in the snowy currents,
   twisting and turning, blind

   as a censer.
   It lands on the window ledge--
   a red cardinal!

   He peeks in, studies the view
   up-down-left-right, makes
   a sign of the cross with his head.

   He takes off like a missile.
   He flies back, sways
   and swaggers toward the window.

   He centers the window
   like a compass,
   targets the bullseye.

   The cardinal flutters
   his wings, spread wide
   with great speed

   the holy ghost ignites a fire.
   The red cardinal dives
   at the window, drops to the ground.

   A bier of crystal beads.
   This cardinal will never
   enter the Vatican.

--Maggie Powers

Athens, Ga.

COPYRIGHT 2007 National Catholic Reporter
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning