Lucky Enough

A male cardinal hops along the front walk, pauses briefly, then flies up to perch on a slender branch of the climbing rose, his crimson plumage shouting out from amidst the green.

It's not long before he's back on ground, foraging in the leaf meal, pecking around the forget-me-nots, glinting in the periwinkle. 

He shines, this cardinal, his feathers brighter, as I've read they are this time of year. He's all decked out for the ladies, of course. And I'm lucky enough to be around for the show.

(Unfortunately, the cardinal couldn't be bothered to pose. But I did snap a quick photo from the rear.)