ones

who stick

that stick

directions

virtues

numbers

sins

rules

& the hypocrites

whose pretentious cloaks

inspired the red birds’ name

cardinals are the ones

who won’t waiver

the birds who

stay

and stay

and stay

and show you

red in the green trees

red in the white snow

red in the gray rain

red in the yellow light

when

the rest

in the Great Lakes,

the Middle West

have moved on

after using/plundering

land, hearts, bodies, souls

for their

migration

they stay on

humbly

undemanding

count the red birds

count on them

they stay