the Cardinal in full plumage
is a handsome bird
both male and female

but the adolescent Cardinal
not so much

it looks a splotchy ragged mess
its act not yet together

adult plumage will come of course
but acts don’t stay together

adulthood isn’t a plateau
of competence and handsome looks
that last until the breakdowns of old age

every year the grownups molt
have to change their feathers
rebuilt their looks and means of flight

people are like that too
without the features

and more staggered periods of change
less assurance that the new
attitudes friends and habits
will work that they’ll feel comfortable
within their skin
with or without features we
are all subject to the weather
poisoning of water the local pecking order

and then death

we all seem to flit around more than is needed
we all sing our joys and needs and warnings

we all proclaim our right to be here
no matter what our plumage
no matter how we sing