The sun has to be low on the horizon
and then the birds catch fire, glow.
What was before unremarkable,
now shines, pulses with an inner blaze.
The one on the far right has a red eye,
the one in the middle sparkles like glitter.
They all shine like sunlight on water,
a warm golden shimmer.

Like an ordinary Thursday afternoon
unloading groceries from the car and then
remembering love
that moment of brilliant light.