The birds went missing for some days
I did not fail to see them
For I can keep tabs on their commings
By the feed level in the silo

I wonder, have they departed?
Did the entire gathered multitude
All the species and varieties
At once get summoned by a grand poobah

Ah No.  They’re back
Voracious, suddenly.  Perhaps an appetite
Built up from long journeys South to heat
Returned as quickly to a stable staple supply

El viejo, baggy clothes and vaguely rancid
Arrives at the tickety tockety place
The pigeons dance head first, feet next
He knows each by his dull colour

At the trough they proceed in size order
Pleasing my delicate sense of propriety
Titmouse, cardinal, blue jay, woodpecker
A grub abides among the seed

I observe

Somewhere in the world
The sun shines warm.
Not so hot as to make one
Perspire within a second of leaving the
Air conditioned comfort dome

In soft afternoon light
The native birds glide and perch
And ramble on the ground and resume
Flight quickly once seeds are consumed
To avoid dangers unseen and unsensed

Not here.  Not in this cold part of the world.
Where snow blankets the dreary brown underbrush
Ice covers the limbs.  Chill - no bitten
Frost - infuses the thin bones, sinews
Yearning to be running brooks

Babbling with warm sap
Coddling blanket embrace
Hawks circling on updrafts
For chipmunks, unaware
Slow, down

I won’t be accompanying
you to the airport

I cannot walk much
any longer

Security checkpoints inhibit us
passing through to the gates

Celestial travels ahead
terrestrially bound I turn

I don’t like goodbyes

Goodbye

In Hospital

Sitting quietly beside the bed
Who knows when the next
Slumbering sound or moan
Or grunt or wail

Plaintively will break
The comfortable silence   for me
But not for you
Your lumbering struggling

Breath   or gasp
Where are your eyes
Focused   Ah, yes   you can see
Me barely sitting at the end

Of that dark tunnel
A glimmer of light    never knowing
That words would fail
To emanate from those frail lips

One breath, yes just one word
I understand    you said a word