Blessed are the birds

grackle bullies shriek,

scuffle over sunflower seeds,

muscling away patient goldfinches

cardinals wait on bare oak branches

*

Blessed are the dry oak leaves,

pale as deerskin

worn winter thin

that shiver and tumble,

grounded by bitter March wind

*

Blessed is the wind

sweeping in from the North

Only ice fairies fly

above the frosted pines

*

Blessed are the pines

moaning adagios

windswept violas and bassoons

harmonize at twilight

*

Blessed is the twilight

sapphire and steel

calligraphy of branches

writing the ballad of night

—————————————

*Islamic sunset prayer