SCARLET REVELATIONS

my breath 

that was rapt away

by this surprise of scarlet revelations

will it return

if I gather up this unexpected beauty

these poignant leavings

reddish quills and precious plumes

spotted downy fluff

black tipped tail feathers

wings un fanned       vermilion       unattached

breathless... 

Scarlet Revelations is inspired, in part, by this tanka by Õkuma Kotomichi


, LATE TOKUGAWA PERIOD, Japan (C. 1770–1867).

My heart that was rapt away by the wild cherry blossoms - will it return to my body when they scatter?"

Scarlet Revelations

my breath 

that is rapt away

by this surprise of scarlet revelations

will it return 

if I gather up this unexpected beauty

these poignant leavings

reddish quills and precious plumes

spotted downy fluff

black tipped tail feathers

wings un fanned       vermilion       unattached

breathless?

    

my breath

that was rapt away

by this surprise of scarlet revelations

will it return 

if I gather thoughts of yesterday s flicker

attention rapt by tasty winter ants

unearthed inside their little winter hillock

beneath snowy shadows

and the unexpected beauty

of a hawk descending
sharp eyes       swift talons       precise beak

realizing her own carnelian insights

red flicker belly blood and bones 

breathless still?

my breath

that was rapt away

by this surprise of scarlet revelations

will it return tomorrow

if I gather to watch the unexpected beauty

of a hawk landing

on tomorrow s naked branches

looking for tomorrow s red 

to fill her belly again

as she rapts me away

my own beating blood belly bone thoughts

breathless again?

NORTHERN RED-SHAFTED FLICKER
photo credit: Roy Hancliff, Barcroft Media