Cardinal Sin

Too-bright too-red cardinals

spilling onto the lawn

without a care that she is gone

trampling her perennials

that she loved so much

His heart transmuted, a silent hole

left in its place and nothing

can replace the way she would sing

but death in his grinning mask stole

the one he loved so much

How could a cold take her warm smiles

bury them in unforgiving earth

replace them with a cardinal's teasing mirth

where her hands once laid down the tiles

that she loved so much

In rage he brings out his gun

Craving silence, numbness, death dances on his fingertips

Too-bright too-red splatters sprinkled on the tulips

But like the cardinal she is still done

The one he loved so much