Hospitality

 

Here

affirmed the crossbills

here, and right here

which is just the place 

you had turned from

 

away from some emotion

and its bothersome visit

at some inconvenient hour

 

like now

 

but as you gaze up at these

beings, feathered and busy,

vivd in the sunlight

 

you know again what it is 

to feel welcomed

and also

how to welcome

 

for as you turn toward the rush 

of belonging 

in each moment

it lands on swift feet, here

and here

always a willing host to what you 

feel 

 

and so you bend

like the branch, spruce cone

heavy

 

and hold each guest 

gently, in the light

 

watching them pause to

rest

their bright wings.