Manning the grill one lazy, late spring evening
Smoke billowing from the dripping grease
That fell from our hamburgers
I noticed a female cardinal
On the wing
Straw gripped firmly in her
Thick, orange beak
She came to a fluttering halt in the rose bush nearby
The one under the window, by the screen porch
I watched her sew this strand
Into the others
Gently weaving
This crude structure into a home
Surrounded by pink petals and thorns
The thorns for protection
The flowers for nothing more than beauty
After nestling out a depression
In her ragged bowl
The cardinal took flight again
And I ran to ready my daughter
For this wonder’s next showing
Before the hamburgers could burn
5-2-17
©2020 Lenny Wells
Thoughts From The Orchard 