BIRDS IN “El Paraiso”
A vermilion flycatcher flutters
around the shrubs, bright
red breast, black head, could
not be more beautiful jumping
from branch
to branch, hiding in the tall trees in
the distance, coming closer
to my window. A red slash
against the blue sky, impossible
not to admire. Two grackles walk
back and forth across the street,
their long black tails sweeping
the cobblestones, determined
and purposeful. Sometimes,
one of them perches himself
on the dome above the house and calls out
to who knows who - a mate? a friend? us?
