Red-winged blackbird spring song

safe in the swamp,
tilting on reeds,
wavy water shivers with song,
air shimmers
sliced by flight of yellow and red chevrons
he perches on last year’s cattails
sings to the dowdy lady, hidden
singing her lies
she loves lies
he has secrets
she warms their secrets

Spring bursts, explodes in spangles
what do they know
care
that winter always comes
what do they care
they are young, alive
feathered, flying
and he, singing lyrical lies.