Outside the kitchen window
the yard's awash in sunlight
warblers and finches crowd the bird feeder
quick to arrive and quickly on their way
they know only the present day and moment
we who have filled the feeder
have longer thoughts to think
but are we more alive
our lives more precious?
to ourselves certainly
but otherwise?
perhaps that's not the question
to be asking
this last day of the year
when on the holly
the crimson berries
poke out through the leaves
like jasper beads the sun
has set aglow