Scarlet Tanager

May 2023

Today I saw a scarlet tanager

  out the kitchen window. 

His brilliant red captivated me

  from inside my considerations

about a life of distance, disconnection. 

And there he was, bold enough

  to show his true colors.

Solid red with solid black.

  Dressed for finding a mate. 

And me in my gray sweatpants

  and scarlet sweatshirt, a Christmas

  present from my son. 

  I am dressed for solitude, for

  solace from the mating years. 

My colors are dull, and fit loosely 

  on my 54 year old body–only

  on display briefly at turns to me

   and me alone. 

His colors are 

  mesmerizing through the 

  glass. He hovers there and I 

  smile with tears welling from 

  the startling wonder of his bold desire.