Quiet Desperation

he is very still
except for the weather report
the amount of rain in his area
the drop in temperature
there is some talk of daily activities
his job is not going well
his co-workers are muffled in fog
they distract from his efficiency
I pack words in warm containers
and send them to his destination
they arrive blue with cold
I watch the cardinals for a message
I stand at the highest peak
if I had the hearing of a mountain lion
I could hear the hidden meanings
I would know if he was still coming
by way of the long river.

-- Phibby Venable