a bird and a boy -

one day as a boy, I went down to the sea clambered o'er rocks way out to the bluff stopping to search in a tide pool for shells senses awakened by strong, briny smells warming, the zephyr was gentle enough - yawning in promise, the sun winked at me. descending a crag and reaching the shore I found my prized seat there on an old log wriggling my toes to delve, deep, the sand pledging the treasure of shells in my hand that sunlight and wind would scatter the fog and thawing, I took off the sweatshirt I wore. 'twas then that I spotted a bird, scarlet red a Cardinal, and male, with exquisite feather perched on a snow fence abutting the dunes greeting the day with the saddest of tunes below in the grasses, ringed by the heather lay one female Cardinal, silenced and dead. I stayed there all day, observing that sight - the male with a canticle, pleading his mate a sorrow and agony poured from that bird as mournful a song as these ears ever heard I stayed there 'til dusk, the sun bowing late and still, he continued deep into the night. I went back each morning to hear that bird sing thus crooning all day for his dear love to rise the rest of that summer - and even years hence with endless devotion he trilled on that fence and tho' one sad spring he departed the skies I watched evermore for red birds on the wing. well ... I'm old now and weary, but here's an odd thing: when winter relents and the warm mistrals bring a breeze with bouquets of hopes for the spring while I'm biding the black arms of slumber to cling ... though it's often dismissed I so swear, through the mist ‘midst the eve, heaven-kissed that I still … hear … him ... sing. ( For Walt Whitman ) ~ 1st Place ~ in the "Completely Your Choice (32) Any Form, Any Theme" Poetry Contest, Brian Strand, Judge & Sponsor. ~ Honorable Mention ~ in the "Your Choice (10) Personification, Any Form, Any Theme" Poetry Contest, Brian Strand, Judge & Sponsor. ~ 1st Place ~ in the "Specificity In Poetry" Poetry Contest, Sheri Fresonke Harper, Judge & Sponsor. ~ 1st Place ~ in the "Best Rhyming Poem September thru October 2017" Poetry Contest, John Hamilton, Judge & Sponsor. (This is a Sextain with a pattern of ABCCBA)