Messenger

I saw a western tanager today

Its song burbled down and splashed.

Aflame red yellow and black it sat and sang

High in bare twigs against blue sky.

Its song burbled down and splashed

All over me and the parking lot

The flaming song notes riffled a pond and

Sweet tanager song entered my heart.

I stood and gazed at the singing bird—

And heard its heart felt song then I knew for sure.

While the flaming song notes riffled a pond

I finally knew the fire bird cure

Since all my loved ones did appear—

appeared in my heart where they belong

they arrived on the notes of a song

Into my heart where they belong.