Along with recovery
I had wished
For one neighbor’s heart to heal, as he tried to mend a leak
Another, to survive the scouge of sudden cancer
For the little bird to find her red box
Fill it with branches and lay her eggs
Nestled blue against the hope of frail humans
For rebirth and warmer days
When the winds were the only thing to die
And maybe the scold in a voice, twisting the knife
Yes, wish it away, along with traces of fear
You have survived the winter, you are still here
The same curled toes and cold fingers, clinging on
If you don’t die, you live, and that’s what you find
As false friends fall and new are born
As spring gathers her skirts and grass turns from brown to hopeful green
As your neighbor touches your hand and his eyes speak
Of the simple gratitude of caring
You didn’t receive it where you thought it would be
There are branches higher up than you can see
Maybe the little bird right now is looking for her nesting
And just like you, she seeks the comfort of knowing
If you make your home warm and secure
They can huff and puff
But you will
Endure