Birding
by Gary Hardaway
Chimney swifts and sparrows,
pigeons, doves, alarming grackles
and murders of crows--
but hardly ever cardinals and jays,
or robins, red and gray.
Even mockingbirds are scarce;
the rat-a-tat tap of woodpeckers
startles in its rarity,
and I haven't seen
a scissortail in twenty years.
In NY, there are pigeons. Lots and lots of pigeons.*
Nice and unnerving. This poem reminds me in the woods, the birds are the ones to call the first alarm and flee from danger (at least in the movies). Has that dark, looming feel.*
The starlings poop on my truck. *
Gary, see my poem "Pigeons Having Sex on an Air Conditioner in New York." That should cheer you up!
Thank you, Amanda,
Emily,
Matt,
and Jerry.