Rapture

A cardinal
       lit upon my 
                     window sill

Its flame
        shone through
  	       my window pane

I stared
      mesmerized
             as I watched
		 it waver

The plumed one
	 opened its beak
		   and spoke
       in rapturous tones:

“It is not the serpent you
should fear.  Live your
life in harmony with all
and all should be
O.K.”

It began to rain
	slowly . . .
                           The flame smoldered
                                 and was gone

6 August 1994