Winter Breakfast (Poetry)

( A Painting by Henry Bright 1814 — 1873 )

Festive orange feathers gleam —
the one bright splash of colour seen
in unrelenting lawns of white
where snow has sealed cold larders tight.
So beaks investigate and tap
each likely morsel — every scrap
as cautiously small searchers go
up to a dish left in the snow.

Two wrens and robin redbreast share
the dry remains of human fare —
they balance on a china rim
and peck their fill of bread within —
accept brief hospitality —
this feast of Christian charity.
Small offerings compassion stirs —
crumbs to comfort starving birds.