Witness

[TranquillityBase]

A female cardinal bathes
in urgent splashes,
gray, black, brown feathers 
darkened and in disarray
jagged in the sun,
wild nymph.

[Mark A Becker]

A female cardinal bathes
in urgent splashes,
gray, black, brown feathers 
darkened and in disarray
jagged in the sun,
wild nymph.

Hi Tim,

I think there's space within in this brief witnessed moment to add a couple more dabs of color: red beak, red tinged feathers, that characteristic black 'mask'.

Here in Virginia, we see more of a muted brownish, than grayish breast feathers.  I'm always fascinated by bird behavior (we have a couple of warring factions in our backyard- cardinals vs mockingbirds)

As is, I enjoyed this one. Thanks,
Mark

[TranquillityBase]

A female cardinal bathes
in urgent splashes,
gray, black, brown feathers 
darkened and in disarray
jagged in the sun,
wild nymph.

Hi Tim,

I think there's space within in this brief witnessed moment to add a couple more dabs of color: red beak, red tinged feathers, that characteristic black 'mask'.

Here in Virginia, we see more of a muted brownish, than grayish breast feathers.  I'm always fascinated by bird behavior (we have a couple of warring factions in our backyard- cardinals vs mockingbirds)

As is, I enjoyed this one. Thanks,
Mark

Mark, Thanks for the read and the comments.  She must have had her derriere aimed at me, because there was no red to be seen.  Why I thought of her as a nymph, disguising herself for her bath.

We have a lot of birds too.  Haven't seen any wars, except among hummingbirds.

Tim