message from my father, through cardinal flitting

flitting from dogwood to oak
in the sanctuary- late afternoon
the time some go for tea--
not me- usually napping--

but on this day was out
walking between
the intense green of tall grasses
and the crispy brown barked woods

found a patch of white pink clover
to sit and gaze at my friends,
those trees around the age
of my grandparents

the siting of a cardinal flitting-
a streak of red in my right periphery-
caused a quickening in my heart,
reminding me that my father

was attempting to contact me
he said, "all that you do moves
from that deep spot in your soul"
and to "just do more of that"

eyes filled with a salty rain
to be shed in meadow,
watering the clovers
now, so close i felt

to all those who went
before me- to pure places
of unwavering love, distilled soul
reminding me that my work will

continue-- to rock and roll with the beauty
of the ones whose bodies have passed
leaving forever their sweet essence
to clothe me in a forever fragrance

words/photo~kate lamberg (c) '16