The Cardinals

When day begins to conquer night,

their songs will bring us pure delight—

for when it’s near to being spring,

they feel an urge and start to sing.

The boy’s a charming scarlet gallant

who has a lot of vocal talent,

but the girl can also croon—

they do their courting with a tune,

and sometimes, if they’re on a date, 

the boy gives seeds to his sweet mate! 

They build their nest with special care:

this is a busy working pair,

and when she settles with her brood,

it’s he that rustles up the food.

In winter feeders in our yard

will help them through a time that’s hard—

and for this good and lovely neighbor,

we are glad to do a favor!

318 Nassau Street (1982)

 A center entrance colonial from 1920,

set on a secluded one block street,

spacious and newly decorated

with a large yard and lovely trees,

it seemed the classic home

until we tried to turn on the furnace

and made acquaintance with the bats.

At last we found a friendly roofer

who plugged the holes along the eaves,

the first in a parade of artisans

who installed a modern heating system,

remodeled the Eisenhower era kitchen,

dealt with the antique wiring

and solved a number of plumbing nightmares.

The trillium came up every spring,

but we found that we did not have talents

for the creation of beautiful lawns,

nor an interest in large scale entertainments

as practiced by socially ambitious neighbors,

but it was a house with lovely corners

where each of us could be at ease.

The children learned to drive and date,

one career almost foundered as another began,

we managed to civilize several puppies,

and we met people whose friendship

has lasted for the rest of our lives,

all in a place of generous shelter

during years of continuous motion,

when everything was happening at once.

Property Abstract

Linn County, City of Cedar Rapids,

Ridgewood: SE 15' LOT 44 & NW 60' LOT 45

Once it was a place to pass over,

a high point between the river and the creek,

a spot for a traveler to get some bearings,

until a young man from upstate New York

heeded the call and served his country in 1812 ,

receiving for his service 160 acres of Iowa land

which he owned for 30 years, but likely never saw.

His heir, a nephew, sold the land for ready cash,

and later, there may have been apple trees.

The railroad crossed the river to Cedar Rapids,

the 6th and 13th Iowa held the line at Shiloh,

the town expanded out to 10th Street,

and the enterprising Grande Ave. Land Co.

began to carve out choice building lots.

The streetcar came along a block away,

industry and commerce reached new zeniths,

and the city had now crossed 19th Street.

The Bohemians crowded in beside the river

and died in the explosion at the Starch works;

and having wrapped up the Great War,

the town was ready to let loose.

A lovely center entrance colonial went up in ‘20,

four bedrooms with lilacs planted in front,

plenty of space for hope and children to grow

in the American century to follow,

but in those brittle yellowing pages

prepared by Cedar Rapids Abstract and Title

we find, interspersed, the disquieting notes

of death, foreclosure and unlicensed dogs.