I.

June pours out a deep indigo dye
onto her first blue hour. A robin chirps,

beacons a dawn chorus of wrens, sparrows,
finches. Sky lightens— though wide bands of clouds

cloak the heavens like thick layers of tulle
on a goddess’s dress. We remain still

until our Kentucky cardinal verses
cheer, cheer, cheer and sun highlights the lacey

layers as they twirl up, up. A clear June day
unfolds with blooms of morning glories. White.