Cardinal
Question: what is air if not
the means by which we
see and feel? Sound creates only
itself, another version of the original
sense. I move from shadows to a deeper
darkness, hoping to find that point where absence
ends. But there is no end, only
continuation, a cry for those
who offer their hands in ambiguity. Sometimes
a cardinal’s call fills our
morning with questions. So
little of all we touch
is felt. We are the air. The air is.
O at the Edges 
I often day dream of being a bird, and marvel at my sense of time, and being able to see the air.
Lovely poem.
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Oh, yes. Who wouldn’t like that?
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: )
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There are so many things which grab me here. Cardinals and red-winged blackbirds are the ones I listen for all the time; for whatever reason, they attract me more than any other birdsong. This has been true of the cardinal since I was a young child. The “hands offered in ambiguity” and the concept of so much of what we touch not being felt strike chords in me. As a blind person, I am often amazed at what people are not aware of when they touch things, nuances not noticed. People believe not seeing is one of the worst things which could happen, but I find that sighted people, in broad terms of course, miss so very much. The air being the vehicle for what we see and feel is so ripe with layers of meaning, with so much depth and shape.
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I am fascinated by perception, and all of my reading on the subject points out that what we are helps define what we perceive, that our senses are never fully used.
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Reminds me of how my mom loved to show me the cardinals when the cold came. Thanks for very pleasant memories.
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You’re very welcome.
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I am always impressed with your masterful use of enjambment, something that I feel awkward attempting in my own Poetry. I have been meaning to tell you that for a while. Nice piece, Robert. As always.
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Thanks, Michael. I often let sound determine where the line will break, and read my poems out loud as I write them (which means I don’t often write in public spaces). 🙂
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The only time I like cardinals is in your poetry. But that’s a story for another day. Superb poetry as we have come to expect. 🙂
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Hmm. I’m anxiouos to hear your cardinal tale.
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“So little of all we touch is felt” — amazing to be served such a fundamental, beautiful insight for the first time. Thanks!
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Thanks, Clyde. I’m so pleased you think so.
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unfortunately, i haven’t had the pleasure of seeing a cardinal in the wild religious or avian. although i did get to see stan musial play when i was a kid. nice poem, robert.
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Stan Musial trumps most cardinals, religious or avian!
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love the structure of this piece!
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Thank you.
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Reblogged this on 2nd Daniel.
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