'Home for the Winter' by Donal Mahoney

​Home for the Winter
 
The last hummingbird
arrives at the feeder
 
all aflutter
in late September,
 
a final sip before flying
home for the winter.
 
Carl watches the bird
as he has all summer
 
through the fog of age.
He now calls Cassandra
 
after all these years
and asks her to dinner.
 
Cassandra says yes
and wears the red dress
 
he gave her one Christmas
when they were together.
 
Gracious as ever
Cassandra understands.
 
She feeds hummingbirds too
and takes Carl home.
 
 
Donal Mahoney