And when you look up
Some winter morning
You will catch a glimpse of
A cardinal flashing red
Between branches of snow.
And on summer days
When cool breeze caresses
Your cheeks and leaves
Shimmer in your presence
Know I’ll never leave your side.
But on days when the flesh refuses
The spirit, pick up any of my books,
Turn to a random page and know:
After the worst storm of my life
You were the gifts of survival.
