Cardinal Degradation

Stands a red bird ‘mongst the sparrows
On my neighbor’s backyard grill,
Indignant at the chaos he endures

There among the raucous chatter
Of the avian rabble’s prattle.
Finds piety counts for nothing on these shores.

But the card’nal works the table,
In the bitter winter snows.
He can’t just spread his wings an’ up an’ go.

January 2013