The cardinal is back in
the shrub just outside
the window; the female
beckons and he abides.

A black-capped chickadee
hops and skips from branch
to branch dropping
to the pond’s side

where ten-year-old gold-
fish move to the sur-
face after a long
winter’s abide.

Surprise, surprise, an
Eastern Towhee with
dirty red sides
comes to abide

for a few moments
and then among
the branches
to hide.