Messenger

A small goldfinch

perched on the windowsill

and peered into my kitchen.

Well, it didn’t perch so much

as cling for dear life

with its tiny talons

to the edge of the window.

What compelled it to

hang there, considering… 

      Is there food?

      Is there shelter?

As I felt my own fingertips

tremble from the work of

holding on, it dropped into

the air and was gone.

In the dark of night

when the good thoughts

do not usually come,

that tiny bird returned to me.

I considered…   

      Yes, there is food.

      Yes, there is shelter.

Thank you for reminding me

of this dear life.