La Dolce Vita

Life of the holy man, sequestered, unnatural A fancy hat atop his red gown for his alleluia… Down on the lowly branches lands a red bird On natural wild wings he sings a mating woo Loved for his striking feathers, he’ll fare well Colors of precious blood, make him a mystic Earning him spiritual powers so pagan-native… Vying hardest is that cultivated flower of luv In petal form perfected long before the magi The original scented pinks lost to red pursuit A root’s kumbaya unheard as her thorny plea… (12/30/22 For ‘the cardinal and the rose’ contest)