The red-winged blackbird clung to the thin limb
at the top of the tree–
a dance of bird, wind, and branch against a
cloudless blue sky.
The bright orange and yellow patches on the tops
of the bird’s wings, like tongues of flame,
spoke from on high, in the language of feathers
in the language of light.
A vibrant melody of crystal-bell notes rung in
sweet song from the young bird’s throat.
And I knew God was listening to the worship,
to this bird’s love for the beauty of the bay,
for the blue heart of sky opening above,
for the bird on the branch, in song, in love.
The power of the moment was more than enough
to make me still believe.
P.C. Scheponik is a lifelong poet who lives by the sea with his wife Shirley and their Shichon, Bella. His writing celebrates nature, the human condition, and life’s metaphysical mysteries. He has published four collections of poems: Psalms to Padre Pio (National Centre for Padre Pio), A Storm by Any Other Name and Songs the Sea Has Sung in Me(PS Books, a division of Philadelphia Stories), and And the Sun Still Dared to Shine (Mazo Publishers). His work has also appeared in numerous literary journals, among them Adelaide, Visitant, Red Eft Review, Boned, Time of Singing, WINK, Poetry Pacific, Streetlight Press and others. He was a finalist in 2017, 2018, and 2019 Adelaide Anthology Contest, and was a 2019 Pushcart Prize nominee.