Messenger

Lost in my reeling thoughts
on this lovely morning,
I am blinded completely
to the here and now
all around me.

Then a small movement,
a flash of red
breaks through
in a nearby bush,
snapping me
out of my trance.

Cardinals
have come to feel
like messengers to me,
little embodiments
of the Divine,
showing up
when I need them,
checking in on me
with their sideway glances,
making sure I am okay.

They are reminders that
even in the depths of pain,
if I just look up,
there are small beauties
all around,
fleeting slips
on encouragement.

By Maria Brady-Smith
Photo by Mike Smith