My Darling, the Cardinal

My darling was born at the
finest facility money could buy
to the finest people
who barely got by.

Her house’s hallway had a trail of
hairpins that stopped on her nest
of sunset delight, and her daddy
couldn’t have been prouder.

My darling danced and my darling
sang, those tunes that could get a
rocker rockin’ out on the rotting porch.
Even in a slip she out-blazed the cardinal.

Her feet tracked mud from
the garden out front and her
heart tracked sighs from the men
she gave her ruby soul to.

My darling was born from the blues
and she turned me to reds.
She dreams and I know I can soar.
Even the cardinal believes.

My darling and I know heaven
because we saw it shining from
behind the mountains as we
swung lazily from the cherry porch swing.