These Are My JOTtings, Part #2

Cardinal Truth

They play around in our backyard,
One male and one female.
For life, it's said, this pairing's part
of socializing's tale.

The cardinal was Mom's favorite,
and when we decorate
with red birds, I most often get
a smile to grief abate.

The male in red-draped glory, rare,
his wife in brown, content,
The Greatest Generation, there
once lived this timely bent,

but now, if human males wear red,
a miter crowns the pate,
and when made white, his words are said
to be none else but great.

Yet, one man's red came from His stripes,
His crown of thorns, most sharp.
No glory had He, lauded hype,
then wrapped in the shroud of lowly garb.

The Greatest Generation matched His coat,
but sacrifice could not.
They gave their all in field and mote.
Our Freedom for it fought.

The cardinal truth thus makes us to think,
"Which garb wears glory best?
The glory, now? Or when we sink
into The One Day blest?"

by Jay O’Toole
on May 2nd, 2025