Molly Hogan doesn’t mind cold fingers. She takes amazing pictures around her home in Maine. She posted this one of a male cardinal all puffed up for the cold. The contrast of red on white makes the cardinal stand out. Recently I witnessed a cardinal couple in the fruit tree. The male was on the lookout while the female fed on the ground. It’s sweet how they care of one another.
This is the week we celebrate love with Valentine’s Day. I am sharing a zeno (8, 4, 2, 1, 4, 2, 1, 4, 2, 1) for the cardinal which symbolizes many things.
Hope and Renewal: The vibrant red plumage of male cardinals is often associated with vitality, strength, and renewal. Their presence can symbolize hope and the promise of new beginnings, particularly during challenging times. Love and Relationships: Cardinals are known for forming strong and lasting pair bonds. Because of this, they are sometimes seen as symbols of devotion, loyalty, and the deep connections found in romantic relationships and partnerships. (from the birdhouse.ca)
Use any form that works for you and leave a small poem in the comments. Be sure to spread poetry love with comments for others.
Cardinal Zeno
Filling the frozen bird feeder
cardinal spy
waits for
seeds
tweets out his call
while Mom
feeds
affectionate
bird heart
freed.
Margaret Simon, draft
Reflections on the Teche 
Wheeeee! Another snow day here. We got at least six inches of the cold fluffy stuff. I’ll measure when I go out to shovel. It’s a code red day of no school here and I’m in my PJ’s reading your poem and loving the thought of an affectionate bird heart in Molly’s photo.
Good morning, good morning
a red cardinal calls
Let’s play in the snow
build a nest near the wall.
Let’s sing to the cold
Let our hearts be so bold
that LOVE is our anthem
the words to our song.
Happy snow day. I love your rhymes. Sounds like a song.
Linda, what a glorious morning song! Especially on a snow day for you. “Let’s sing to the cold / Let our hearts be so bold” I’m sure this is proving to be a lovely start to your day. Yes, to LOVE!
Love the joy coming through in your poem, Linda. Enjoy your snow day.
Margaret, thank you for hosting each week. I always love coming here and seeing the photos you choose. Thank you for the example of doing research that helps us all write poems. “affectionate bird heart” is my favorite phrase in your lovely and rhyming zeno story today.
Bold and bright, you flash and beckon
all to notice
Red go
sign
Mama bird more
subtle
dines
while both dream of
spring’s love
shrine
I love spring’s love shrine.
Cardinal’s dreaming – what a lovely thought!
Red crowned wonder you sing from your lofty clouded The song The song of winter Charity charity charity Your joyful prayer in the morning Fills my heart with glee My eyes with wonder With With joyful songs of peace
I love “red crowned wonder” and the repetition of charity.
That’s the sound–charity, charity, charity! Good catch.
“Your joyful prayer in the morning” is lovely, Jessica.
I have a pair of resident cardinals in my yard, Margaret. I love watching them together and you captured their “bird hearts” well in your zeno. I’m cheating just a bit and posting the first verse of a poem I wrote a while ago titled “Winter Red.” It’s what came to mind first when I saw the photo.
red winks through winter white
on rosy cheeks from winds that bite
from cardinals perched on willow’s branch
in early morning light
Love the personification of red.
Rose, such a fun perspective. I like the sound, rhyme, and rhthym of your poem too.
yes to red winking!