by Mark Weinrich

The dove’s soothing coo
calms my spirit
and mirrors the gentle
rhythm of the stream.

Two cardinals serenade
perhaps in competition
for a mate.

A female hummer listens
from a twig, exhausted
from her forays, hunting
nectar in this drought.
I think she wishes 
she could sing, but I’m
afraid her song would
be a lamentation now.

One cardinal chimes
the other follows. I hope
when all things are made new,
when I have exchanged these ears
for my heavenly pair.
That I will understand their lyrics,
the bird songs that lifted me
out of a troubled day
and transported me
into the light.

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 135 news stand, inspirational, and literary publications. He has sold eight children’s books and currently has two fantasy novels on Kindle.