A Day for the Birds

we draw them in closer
entice them with food
& the illusion of safety
and watch

still, that is not enough
closer, we beg, closer
we point and shoot
there, now we have you

but, no, a simple image
no matter the zoom
will not appease us
for long

so we shoot harder
& place them on a backdrop
of our own making
and admire our work

the plastinator has been banned
for attempting such things
perhaps because we are not
as pretty as they & not nearly as easy to kill

(click the image above to see the album)

Though the passage above is a bit harsh, I did enjoy the “Bird Blind” they have in place at this park. There were quite a few migratory birds there as well - grabbing a bite of suet for the road.

The vultures will always be my favorite, though…

Red Tide

it is red algae
the ranger explains
he is so young, i think,
it must be intern week

it releases an odor like
ammonia, he continues
he doesn’t know, i think,
how i grew up on the coast

my allergies must be
getting worse, i think,
as i cough with every breath
it passes, though, as i head inland

and, sometimes, i also think
of what death will feel like to everyone else

(click the image above to see all the photos)