Return
How you lift
in arctic winds,
feathers reached,
flit from limb,
then furl in
compact chassis.
A-rested cling,
bob and peck
silky blacks;
bill-mashed oil
fires your engines.
Bright chirps sound
against bleached,
drab winter canvas,
promises from
forebears, carrying
on, returning
through seasons.
My mom always believed that cardinals sighted were those who passed on returning to say hi. After chickadees, cardinals are the most frequent visitors to my bird feeders. I like to think my mom has come back to say hi and brought some of our relatives with her and maybe some new friends she’s made since passing over.
Sarah Connor, a lovely poet and former host of dVerse, recently passed away. I know Sarah loved her rooks, but I think I saw her there among the red and dun.
Missing you, Mom; and Sarah, I know you are at peace.
De (aka Whimsy Gizmo) is today’s host of dVerse’ Quadrille Monday. De would like us to write a 44-word poem using the word lift.
Tao Talk 
Over here it’s robins that are the spirits returning to say hi. My mum was a robin lover and came to visit me as a robin after she died. Robins and cardinals share that lovely red. Sarah loved all corvids, but she was also a fan of skylarks. I love the movement of the cardinal in ‘flit’ and ‘furl’, ‘bob’ and ‘peck’, Lisa, and the lines:
“Bright chirps sound
against bleached,
drab winter canvas”.
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Kim, your robins are smaller and cuter than ours, I can see where yours would be returning spirits. Thanks much for always reading and your kind comments.
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Always a pleasure, Lisa.
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You’re most welcome
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Oh, Lisa. What a beautiful tribute to both Sarah and your mom. Our “winter canvas” is a little different here in Southern Nevada, but can be just as dreary in many ways. You’ve lifted my spirits today. Thank you.
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You’re welcome, De. I don’t know what I’d do without those red trapeze artists in winter.
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Beautiful poem and beautiful sentiments expressed in your note after the poem.
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Thanks much, Lillian.
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And that title! RETURN. Perfect for our poet friend Sarah, whose keyboard brought us so much joy.
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<3
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I love the thought of birds returning witth spirits like that returning with a splash of red. If I ever see a bullfinch it might be that.
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Bjorn, I’m certain they do.
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Oh my heart .. this is such a beautiful tribute to your mom and Sarah! I especially like; “Bright chirps sound against bleached, drab winter canvas.” 🩷🩷
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Sanaa, thanks much <3
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That third stanza is stellar. I grew up in Ohio, Cardinals are the state bird. I’ve lived in seven states and never seen one. We don’t have them in Alaska, so I probably never will. Really nice write.
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Violet so sorry you’ve never seen them. I’m guessing you see lots of water birds in Alaska? Thank you.
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Sandhill cranes mostly. They herald in out summers every year, and leave us when winter is nye.
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Sandhill cranes are beautiful and impressive looking birds. We see them here, but infrequently.
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What a blessing. I see cardinals often on hikes around here. I’d surely stop and snap some pictures if I got to see that many.
Love the “silky blacks,
bill-mashed oil
fire your engines.”
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They like to perch in the apple tree, waiting their turns at the feeders. Happy you see them on your hikes.
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I love your ode to the cardinals! I don’t think I’ve seen any in my neck of Wyoming.
I never heard that story about cardinals, but if I ever see any, I’ll think about those who died.
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Thanks much, Nolcha.
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Beautifully warm and tender memories, Lisa. This is a very lovely quad.
A short time after my brother-in-law passed, a cardinal flew onto the railing of our back deck, stayed about 10 minutes primping and preening, and took off. He visits us regularly. A couple of days after that, my Christmas cactus bloomed one solitary blossom …. in May! Oh, yes …. I believe the ones we have loved and lost do return.
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Thanks, Nancy, and thank you for sharing those special moments that make you a believer.
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My pleasure, Lisa!
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Beautiful homage…just lovely, silently, nature expressing itself at its best, through your words.
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Aw thanks, Ain. Those red chippies get me through winter.
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Beautiful and moving tribute to your mom and Sarah. I love the thought of birds returning to visit and bringing color and cheers.
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<3
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They are certainly beautiful. Sorry for your loss msjadeli.
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<3 Thanks, Gia.
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I believe cardinals are messengers, as well. I recently lost my brother and a cardinal has been appearing and it brings me comfort. I am sure your mom has visited you a reminder that she is not gone just transformed.
Peace to you!
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<3 Appreciate you, Truedessa. Sorry for your brother passing on to a transformed being, and good to know our loved ones stay near.
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I have certain birds I associate with people I’ve lost. I also believe they are messengers. Whenever a robin stops right in front of me and looks me in the eye I know exactly who is telling me to get outside my head and pay attention. It always makes me smile.
Those are beautiful photos, especially the one on the wing. A wonderful tribute to your mom and Sarah. (K)
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Love hearing your experiences on it, K. Glad you like the pics. Thank you.
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What a beautifully written tribute, to both the cardinals and your loved ones who passed. It is amazing that they survive the subzero temperatures.
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Dwight, I know what you mean about how do they survive. I make sure to keep the feeders full, but it’s so cold!
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Yes, these days they can empty it in one day!
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What a lovely tribute to loved ones that have passed, Li. We have cardinals that are regulars at our feeder. The other day when the snowstorm hit our area, the cardinals and doves took refuge on our balacony. It was a glorious sight.
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Eugi, thanks so much for sharing about the birds and what a blessing you were able to provide refuge for them.
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Aw, that is such a warmhearted tribute to your mom, Lisa!
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Christian, thank you. She and I had our differences but I loved her and have been missing her.
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I believe I can relate. I’m thinking about my mom pretty frequently. I was really close to her. My one big consolation is she no longer needs to suffer!
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<3
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Beautiful poetry and sentiments, Lisa… I loved the imagery evoked with the words, “…then furl in / compact chassis.”
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Thanks much, Steve :)
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My pleasure, Lisa!
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We always saw Cardinals in the snow…always it seemed like or maybe that is when they stood out! Nice poem Lisa!
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Glad you’ve spied them against the snow. They are here through all seasons, and always a welcomed sight.
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A beautiful tribute Lisa and done in onlh 44 words. Bravo
much♡love
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Gillena, thanks so much.
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A beautiful poem Li.
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Sadje, thank you.
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I’d love to spy bright red cardinals…glad you enjoy their visits, Lisa!
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They’re my neighbors :)
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You are blessed :)
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What a heartfelt, beautiful homage to your mom and Sarah. Sarah was such a beautiful soul and from what I know of you, I know your mom must have been too. How wonderful that these cardinals brighten your dreary winters. ❤️❤️
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Punam, thank you for your lovely comment. My mom was a crusty old bird and the world is a lesser place by her absence. <3
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You are very welcome, Li. Without moms world certainly is a lesser place. ❤️
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Your words really animate the scene, I can see the cardinals flitting and furling! This is a lovely memorial to your mom and to Sarah. I have heard that about cardinals, but my dad uses crows to say hello.
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D, let’s face it, birds are messengers between realms. Dr. Estes says owls (i.e. Mother Night) bring dreams back to the waking world also.
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I’d never heard that about cardinals but it is a beautiful idea. I love to see them with their vibrant red feathers. I think I may have only seen one or two since being in FL. Even up north it wasn’t exactly a frequent occurrence to see the red bird, nothing like whan I was a child and they seemed to be much more common. Who knows though! It is just a memory that could be purely my imagination!
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Christine, I think there are a lot less birds generally from when we were kids. These area seems to have way more than usual, and the feeders call them in.
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“Our” cardinals return year after year…
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Nice. It’s the same here with the robins. They are the first sign of spring.
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:-) I’m ready ! :-)
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I hate to say it but our winter started just a couple of weeks ago. I think it will be a late spring here. Good luck where you’re at.
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Thanks ! I’m thinking we’re in for some weird ass weather. :-D
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I think weather has gone weird world wide! And I was worried we wouldn’t have winter this year. (Is that enough “w”s for ya?) ;)
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:-D Hahaha — I think you’ve left off ‘wacky’, but otherwise, gee whiz !!!!!!!!! :-D
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“Bright chirps sound
against bleached,
drab winter canvas,”
Wonderful words, Lisa.
I was sorry to hear about Sarah. I only knew her by her work, which was excellent.
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Thank you, Sara. Likewise, I knew her more by her poetry than anything. I do know she struggled for a long time with her illness. May she be at peace now.
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What a beautiful poem and tribute, Lisa! Your imagery was stunning. My family also believes cardinals visit at the request of those who have passed on. My uncle used to love camping. Ever since his death, we always see a cardinal at our campsite. It’s a comforting feeling, for sure.
Yvette M Calleiro :-)
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
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Thank you for your wonderful sharing, Yvette. Too many have experienced it to say it isn’t so.
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Oh… sorry to hear of your friend/hosts passing. I’ve heard that too about Cardnials being the spirits of love ones. To me though they are just wild birds – there are just too many along with all the others that visit the feeders I have for them. Some say we should onlly feed our feathered friends when food is unavailable. But I feed them all year round…
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I hear you on feeding year-round. One lady I know bought a heated dog bowl and puts it out there for the critters. Haven’t gotten to that point yet.
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While the gully is quite frozen… with the creek back there… I don’t put out water. But I can see how some birds would appriciated it – especially in winter.
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