Ripe Cherries

Yellow to red, things change

unnoticed, even me. Each day

after dinner I stand in the courtyard,

quiet, watching. Sparrows chirp and twitter,

flying back and forth. I know

they like to peck cherries,

but are skittish of my dog.

Just a few days ago

he rushed the tree barking,

snapped a sparrow in his teeth,

and ate. Cruel enough,

but I didn’t scold. It seems important

the cherries are fully ripe. Lovely,

a heavy-fruited tree. Even more this year,

after news of the big quake,

so many dead far off when earth

and mountains shook. For me

how fortunate each day,

watching fruit grow ripe.