The Scarlet Tanager

We'd hiked in,
early summer,
through the sparse woods,
deep and far,
a long walk,
and we were tired.

Found the creek
tumbling and dribbling
over huge boulders
forming small pools
beneath smaller falls.

Climbed the creek
a small way
and settled in as strangers
on sun warmed stone
amid filtered perfectly green light.

Almost before our breath was evened
a small splash below us
a small twittering:
And a most glorious burst
of red amidst all the green woods
and gray stone.

The most scarlet ever seen,
the most vermilion ever created.
Luminous, burning, bright!
All in the body of one small bird,
bathing.

That moment, the moment of truth,
of stillness
of joy
has illuminated all that has followed.

There needs be
one
red
bird
in every life,
soon or late.

~~ Julie Li