Snowy
Red-bird!
Of
myriad-trees Gramps had-planted o’re some decades-seven
12-thousand,
or-so---various-species…a garden green-heaven
A-single
crimson-maple gracing his back-yard displayed an-anomaly
The
lowest-branch grew straight-out from the-trunk absent-apology
Short
and stout, the accoutrement called-defiance to any-protocol
Outlandish
in-appearance it seemed an-obtrusive obtuse-of-vitriol
The
old-man couldn’t bear to cut any live-creation; even to trim-it
His
house-frau found the sight an embarrassingly sad-sore limb-fit
Five
chattering-years Gramps promised Grandma a final-remedy
Tired
of her-yammering, he reluctant-agreed to sanction-serendipity
Suffering
guilt spirit-deep he would, at-least, remove the errant-perch
Years-ago
he had harvested fire-wood from a dead trio-river birch
Autumn
graced the maple with royal-regal red-pageantry that-year
Oh! So
delicious-beautiful!
Gramps purpose-dawdled ’til New-Year
A-promise!
Is one’s sacred-word! Alas! Surgery! Come-the-morn
Grandma
arose-early to greet fresh-fallen fluff of winter-white storm
Gramps
had proud-filled their porch-feeder in the purple-eve afore
Birds
scattered at Gram’s-appearance at-dawn at the kitchen-door
Tree-branches
sported piled white-snow on cold-branches winter-bare
Like
ornaments on a decorated Christmas-tree feathered-friends shared
The-flock
in-unison abandoned the-site as Gramps joined his-mate
Save
one-brilliant red-cardinal held-back to set the-record straight
Grandma
soft-touched ole-Gramps’ calloused-hand and shed a wistful-tear
That
ole stub-branch she had-complained of the red-bird had chose to-cheer
In
a winter wonderland of brilliant-white Nature landscape-painted
A
flash-of-red on yon stubby maple-branch anointed the-tree Sainted
Grams
spoke n’ere ’ere any further defiling-deprecating lamented-word
The-reason
for a perceived Mother-infraction rested a Cardinal red-bird
Amen!
