Pappaw used to say
red birds were visitors from Heaven
stopping by just to see how
everyone’s doing since
they went away.

Pap visits a lot these days
looking over the unplowed
garden plot shaking his 
head, disappointed his
garden is but a memory.

Nanny visits in the winter
making sure everyone is staying
warm, she stops by her mother’s
bird feeder for a quick snack,
and sings her song as she flies away