DIFFERENCES

Through most of the year, cardinal pairs will sing back and forth to promise over and over their dedication to the other. Beaks open, repeating vows and calling to close the proximity between the two. But when the winter season comes, and ice falls, and tasks change, their song frequency wanes. It’s what the cold will do. It alerts the two of you; making you numb and changing what you feel. There’s more sit and ponder than frolic and zeal. Differences exposed. List of woes of how you wish your one and only were more like you. You step back, take a look, read every page of the other’s tightly shut book. Perched far enough away to see what’s not you. Quiet. Quiet until we can hum what is true. I do and I do. For in what other way are you to see the brilliance of your other half if there were no contrast? Airing differences until they land softly below to be covered in pure white snow. 

“We stood together in silence, I with my thoughts and she with hers. She turned and looked straight at me for a moment, but said nothing. All was white and still."

12 x 9 in
mixed media painting