Card’nal, Card’nal, trilling bright

Indiana State Parks photo

CARD’NAL, CARD’NAL

Card’nal, Card’nal, trilling bright, 

In the forests, reddened sight; 

What wondrous hand or tool, 

Did frame thy beauty as a jew’l?

In the oaks, beneath the skies

Whence the fire of thine eyes;

And your majestic color-coat

You wear natural without gloat?

And what shoulder, & what art,

Could twist the stirring of thy heart?

On what chords dare you aspire?

What hand bids you sing higher?

Thy brightened beak, tis also true, 

Doth to beauty accrue.

Yet your mate, in lesser garb

Holds not a jealous barb.

No craftsman at glowing forge 

Did your work divine disgorge 

No one smiled his work to see

Thy charms themselves just came to be.

Card’nal, Card’nal, trilling bright, 

In the forests, reddened sight; 

Nature’s blind hand as tool, 

Did frame thy beauty as a jew’l.

            — March 29, 2015, with nods, but no apologies, to William Blake