Life List, J.S. Absher (December 2025)

 Life List

The black cherries were in fruit. The tops
of our two trees were thick with birds. We’d
never seen their like. The spyglass mislaid
somewhere in our rummage, I started up
the tree, but the birds scattered. I was raised
by Daddy to use the tools I had at hand,
to worry a problem like a redbone hound
     with a raccoon. I fired at noonday….
 
Subtle crest, yellow belly, a bandit’s
black mask, and red chevrons on her wingtips:
cedar waxwing, we found it in the book.
Would it have been better if I hadn’t?
Murdering a beauty did make me sad,
     but beauty made me have to look.