redbird

i heard his voice all summer

but saw him

first today

 i used to have returning cardinals

who

year after year 

fought their reflections

in my studio window

 each spring

from a lilac perch

how much better to have

a shock of brilliant 

red

on another sick morning

red red in the wild blue grapes

reading

wild grapes

this is how i am today

but i am

still

 in this town

where there are horses, 

somewhere.

while i'm

staying at the artificial environment of the hilton

in saratoga where your horse naturally won.

 hmmm

 this was part of a metallic thoroughbred's anatomy.

but i met a writer who loves horses 

and writes for the y.a. reader

but this is what i will remember from saratoga

indigo and terra cotta