I love it all, the rhythm, the simple words that convey so much, as opposed to the flowery "purple" prose (or poems) of some writers. I'm intrigued by the cardinals declaring the evening mass and birds "canting" a song (cantoring, yes, but canting implies more). And the ending is sublime! I am a starling - I call this place home - we are all interlopers, sojourners, intruders, if we think about it, and so most of us never think about it.

Thank you @owasco for resteeeming (re-hiving?) this, or I might not have seen it. And thank you, takeonrules, for a lovely birdsong in human words.

Ok, I had to look it up. I think of cant, the verb, as a tilting or slanting or leaning, but it is in fact more, as you already knew.
Definition of cant (Entry 1 of 7)
1: the expression or repetition of conventional or trite opinions or sentiments
especially : the insincere use of pious words
the cant of hypocrites
2: a set or stock phrase
3a: the private language of the underworld
the cant of thieves
b: JARGON sense 1
cobsolete : the phraseology peculiar to a religious class or sect
4: affected singsong or whining speech
a beggar's cant

#LOVE it!