Cattails

Cattails

That long shrill, trill of joy,

red-winged blackbirds

perched on copper cattails

Once you mailed me cattails

in a long brown box.

I sprayed them so they wouldn’t burst.

But of course, they did.

Isn't that the way with beauty?

Things I love

and try to hold too long?

The cattails gleam like candles in low light

The birds soar off toward the setting sun.