Back Again

[Semicircle]

Back Again

Merlin, our fearless hunter cat
has been gone for over five years now.

Ever since, cardinals have come around
in early March: the olive-brown female,

with her orange beak, and black mask,
hoo-eet, eet, eeting when the clematis begins

to wind its way up the arbor outside  
our kitchen window.  She calls, and calls

until the flashy male flies in to greet her.
His sharp red beak framed in black,

and a pointy crest of scarlet.  They touch
beaks, and she darts off around the side

of the house for the thick cover of bushes
near the crepe myrtle.  He quickly follows 

with a few twigs.  She has chosen their spot
for the nest, so I leave them be, knowing

that I will hear her song every day.  I smile
to myself, so glad to see them back again:

I’ve named her Chloe, and him, Merlin.

I was fully expecting, at the end of the poem, 
for Merlin to come eat the birds and bring them to your doorstep
along with all his other conquests--
that would make for a good funny.

but that is not a critique
I wouldn't change the poem.
It's very pleasent as it is.

Reminds me of my grandfathers backyard
he has his own owl that visits every now and then,
I can't recall what he named it.

I'll have to ask him
and make my own poem.