defiantly he puffs his crimson breast,
his muted warbling chokes on frigid air,
heart aflutter on lofty bough he rests
starved for warmth beneath the sun’s icy glare

his muted warbling chokes on frigid air
enduring his inevitable fate
starved for warmth beneath the sun’s icy glare
they’ll return when spring is greening where he waits

enduring his inevitable fate
though his flock mates flew to warmer climes
they’ll return when spring is greening where he waits
instincts in play to help him pass the time

though his flock mates flew to warmer climes
heart aflutter on lofty bough he rests
instincts in play to help him pass the time
defiantly he puffs his crimson breast

kat ~ 13 September 2017
(a Pantoum poem)