When holly and oak had a winter’s day party...

Three male cardinals came, along with their wives
And three blue jays buzzed one another
While Carolina wrens pecked at the stack of branches and brush beneath.

Then tiny sparrows came, one, and then two, wings aflutter,
Adding their smart gray to the chorus of red, blue, and tobacco brown
All in the deep ever-green of the holly tree
While bare oak stood tall, arms outstretched,
Inviting, protecting, holding the space.