The Cardinal and the Rose

The church bell chimes in charming tone, but watering the blooming rose plants the cardinal is late for the evening Mass. As he runs in haste in the squally wind, his red Zucchetto takes a flight. A cardinal then flies in the crimson sky, in mid-air the Zucchetto wraps it around, and turns into its red wings, fluttering with blazing avian rhythm in the floating fragrance of red rose. The cardinal is allured by the red beauty, flushed by the film of fiery patina, harmonized with its own color. In trance of love it swirls around the rose, the tender petals fall scattered on the ground. The spinning dance of the stimulated bird inadvertently razes the frail flower, that blossomed specially for the Lord, but its cardinal sin is condoned, for the cardinal is blind in love with the rose. ______________ January 14, 2023 Contest : The Cardinal And The Rose Sponsored by : Craig Cornish