Visitation

He, a scarlet punctuation

of familiar exclamation,

needs no formal invitation

for our daily conversation,

though my bowed supplication

to his regal aviations

notes our shared infatuation

that needs no exact translation,

it’s poetic observation

in his wingbeat dedications

and my heartbeat palpitations

for this sacred of relations;

some days: my lone salvation.

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Photo and Poem ©2025, Jen Payne. If you like this poem, you’ll love my new book SLEEPING WITH GHOSTS, on sale now!