by Mark Weinrich

It is with sadness I drain the patio fountain
and roll it into the garage lest it freeze.
It flows with enough gusto 
to drown out traffic and dogs
and gives a fair imitation 
of a mountain song. 

The patio emptiness
is more than just a void to me 
for doves and blue jays love to sneak in
when they think no one is looking. 
A male blue jay with his bold
black necklace and white eye patch
stares from his chair perch
at the empty space and back to me.
His quizzical look says, “Where’s
the living water? It tastes even
sweeter than it sounds.”  

When Jesus said, “Consider
the birds…”  I never thought one
could speak so loudly.

Mark Weinrich lives a creative life as a writer, photographer, musician, and artist—all wrapped together in an outdoorsman. He is a retired pastor and nine-year cancer survivor. His writing and photography have appeared in over 130 news stand, inspirational, and literary publications. He has sold eight children’s books and currently has two fantasy novels on Kindle.