Mates for Life

[Mark A Becker]

Mates for Life

Our cardinals have returned
to the battered boxwood
outside the kitchen window.

She's a lovely
muted brown; he stands out
robustly red.

Hidden inside by our window
we marvel at how they work
with shared purpose

gathering sticks and stems
from frigid ground
to build a sturdy nest.

We cheer on the urgency
of their song
their call and response

singing life into the yard.
They remind me, darling
of what we are.

[RiverNotch]

some small notes

Hidden inside by our window - would remove "inside"
we marvel at how they work
with shared purpose - would add a comma

gathering sticks and stems
from frigid ground - would add "the"
to build a sturdy nest.

We cheer on the urgency
of their song - would add a comma
their call and response

singing life into the yard.
They remind me, darling - somewhat dislike the last two lines, as they feel kinda....idk, incomplete? some sort of cop out? but retaining them as they are, i would add a comma here
of what we are.

[carahmellow]

Mates for Life

Our cardinals have returned
to the battered boxwood
outside the kitchen window.

She's a lovely
muted brown; he stands out
robustly red.

Hidden inside by our window
we marvel at how they work
with shared purpose

gathering sticks and stems
from frigid ground
to build a sturdy nest.

We cheer on the urgency
of their song
their call and response

singing life into the yard.
They remind me, darling
of what we are.

This might be my favorite poem that I have read on this forum. I absolutely love it... it's so sweet.