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?"
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
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
photo credit: Roy Hancliff, Barcroft Media
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