Happy Valentine's Day!

I can think of no better Valentine for the readers of My Minnesota than this eponymous poem from Mary Oliver's book titled Red Bird.

male Cardinal         © harrington

Red Bird

Red bird came all winter
firing up the landscape
as nothing else could.

Of course I love the sparrows,
those dun-colored darlings,
so hungry and so many.

I am a God-fearing feeder of birds,
I know he has many children,
not all of them bold in spirit.

Still, for whatever reason--
perhaps because the winter is so long
and the sky so black-blue,

or perhaps because the heart narrows
As often as it opens--
I am grateful

that red bird comes all winter
firing up the landscape
as nothing else can do.

Although a red-tailed hawk could be a contender.

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