Notes from a New England Wedding

A burst of bluebirds fell across the field

Sudden right angle flight

downward twist

razoring above bright green ground

Then with a hiccup of a swoop

Tore into the nearby sumac

Ripping ripe red berries from

bent stems

Tossed the bloody feast down, whole,

into ever empty throats

Berry after berry snatched with a snap

Their eyes gleamed

No! Glowed

in their gorging

blue feathers turned purple

from scarlet juice

Overripe joy

Drunk on the dayʼs promises

They left with the sunset