The Congress of Birds

(any allusions to Attar’s The Conference of Birds are subconscious and probably intentional)

Birds fuss at the sun

squirrels, the neighbor’s cat

a snake and other birds

They call back and forth

in bushes and trees

from fence and power lines

Some may even bully

honk get out of my way

I’m coming through

There are strong silent types

that float on thermals

waiting to gather up a meal

Or the quiet grim reapers

in the pine by the highway

waiting on road kill to ripen

Arguing and flapping

tearing meat from bone

all through supper

Political parties are a joke

it’s every bird for its self

I’ll get mine and you get yours

I used think singing birds

admired the beauty of the rose

but it is all about desire

sex, food and nesting rights

but no one’s feathers get ruffled

about passports or where you were born

5-9-20