"Red Bluejay / Ode to a Cardinal"

  The jays’ favorite jay is sanguine
His bloody breast unmarked
The gala apple of our eye
Innocent and mockingbird-ish
Who ever heard of a red bluejay?

How darling that you never notice
Those of us picking your molted feathers from the ground
Jolt sweetly at those who pick them from your wings
How darling that you don’t know
You will be plucked and useless one day
Who ever heard of a red bluejay?

If ever your wings ache so
Remember this: we are your flock
Even if you are not ours.
How could you be?
Who ever heard of a red bluejay?