Sunflower Finches

light verse

Painting by Katsushika Hokusai (of neither a sunflower nor a finch)

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They flit from bud to flower and bask
in glory rising from the East.
They wait beside the verdant leaf
on petals yellow feathers match 
to bow, in orans raise their wings,
and hover where the Spirit hid
within the formless dark; they bid
daylight illume created things. 
In antiphon, the finches chant
their sunflower hymns, the ancient ones
that prove their golden plumage comes
as image bearers of that plant,
then prostrate, on crossed branches kiss
the firstfruits of their eucharist.

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